Note: World Lung Foundation united with The Union North America. From January 2016, the combined organization is known as “Vital Strategies.”
(New York) – World Lung Foundation released today the following statement from Peter Baldini, Executive Director, applauding President Obama's pledge to restore United States support to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA):
“World Lung Foundation commends the Obama administration's pledge to support policy change that will enable funding to reach the United Nations Population Fund. This life‐saving decision will increase safe pregnancies and childbirths and help reverse unacceptably high rates of maternal and child mortality. Its evidence‐based programs have helped to substantially reduce maternal mortality rates in Bolivia, Egypt, Zimbabwe and other countries.
President Obama's decision paves the way for America to rejoin approximately 180 countries that are using science to address a critical global public health issue. A total of $244 million has been appropriated for vital programs. World Lung Foundation urges the United States Congress to support the President's pledge and include UNFPA in its FY2009 foreign aid spending bill.”