On March 25, the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations held a hearing, “The First One Thousand Days: Development Aid Programs to Bolster Health and Nutrition.”
In setting the context for the hearing, Chair Chris Smith (R-NJ) said, “We must take a holistic, mother-and-child approach to the problem. By helping women throughout pregnancy receive adequate nutrition and supplemental micronutrients – such as iodine, Vitamin A, and folic acid – and ensuring that they are well-fed while nursing, both children and mothers thrive.” Rep. Smith added, “Nor must we ever pit the survival of the child against that of the mother, as both are complimentary objectives. Curbing child mortality in the womb and at birth also goes hand-in-hand with reducing maternal mortality. Best practices to radically reduce maternal mortality can and must be life-affirming – protecting from harm both patients, the mother and the child in the womb. Of course, we have known for more than 60 years what actually saves women’s lives: skilled birth attendants, treatment to stop hemorrhages, access to safe blood, emergency obstetric care, antibiotics, repair of fistulas, adequate nutrition, and pre- and post-natal care.”
The following witnesses testified during the hearing:
