Kampala — Political will and the translation of that will into action, is essential to ensuring maternal, newborn and child survival.

Recognising this necessity, 200 MPs recently gathered in Cape Town, South Africa, for the 118th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to discuss the status of maternal and child health.

In Uganda, over 435 women die during childbirth for every 100,000 live births. In East Africa, only Tanzania is on target at reducing maternal and infant mortality. Kenya has slid backwards and Uganda has not made any significant advance. Tanzania's success, according to health experts, is due to increased public spending on health by nearly twofold.

"Care for mothers, newborns and children is at the heart of human progress and a country's well-being," said Dr. Gertrude Mongella, president of the Pan-African Parliament and key note speaker. "Can't we do something to change the lives of mothers and children? We have the power. We have the voice. Do we have the courage?"

Success stories are proof that the knowledge and resources exist to combat child and maternal mortality, but political commitment needs to be strong if the world is to achieve the Millennium Development Goals on child and maternal health (MDGs 4 and 5).

"What you can do as parliamentarians is create a supportive environment for maternal, newborn and child survival," said Peter Salama, the UNICEF Chief of Health, adding that parliamentarians can play an active role in demanding services for their communities.

The theme of the IPU Assembly was 'Pushing back the frontiers of poverty'.

"Investing in the health of women and children is not only an investment in human rights, but a sound economic decision," said Mongella.

The parliamentarians pledged to take action over the next year, and to report back to the IPU Assembly in 2009 on the results achieved.

"As elected leaders, we can influence governments' political priorities and affect the political direction of our countries," said Sylvia Ssenabulya, a Ugandan Member of Parliament. "We hold the purse strings and can make a significant difference in ensuring that adequate resources are provided by governments."

But have the MPs actions been significant in determining progress? Or has their lack of engagement resulted in poor outcomes?

Health activist Robinah Kaitiritimba, says: "If they could walk the talk, what could be a better legacy for politicians to bequeath?"