Creams, ointments, sticking plasters and an ample supply of liquid paracetamol - odds are, your medicine cupboard is stocked with the same items. The occasional spoonful of paracetamol has helped my children through many a minor illness, but in recent months, I have met families in Sudan and Afghanistan without access to proper medical care or basic medicine.
This despite a pledge from world leaders in 2000 to achieve eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), aimed at eradicating global poverty. These goals included reducing child deaths, and the deaths of women in childbirth.
There has been progress. Deaths from measles, one of the main child killers in developing countries, have more than halved since 1999. The TB epidemic is on the verge of decline and more than 2 million people are now receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS.
Yet each year 10 million children still die before their fifth birthday and every minute, a woman dies in childbirth somewhere in the world. In 2000, world leaders pledged to stop the spread of major diseases, yet each year, malaria claims a million lives, tuberculosis nearly two million lives and HIV/Aids three million lives.
That is why, this afternoon, the Prime Minister and I will join developed and developing countries, alongside the eight largest health agencies to launch the International Health Partnership.
The International Health Partnership has three aims : to better coordinate the aid given to poor countries; to focus on improving health systems as a whole; and to support the unique health plans of developing countries.
What does better aid co-ordination mean?
Zambia receives health support from more than 15 major international partners - Rwanda more than 20. The multiple partners and reporting procedures that developing countries have to deal with wastes time and resources. To help countries like Zambia and Cambodia, donor countries in the International Health Partnership will work together to reduce the administrative burden on overstretched ministries of health, thus increasing the cost effectiveness of aid.
Why focus on improving health systems?
There has been a lot of success in tackling specific diseases such as measles and TB in recent years. However, today complications in childbirth are the leading cause of death for women in the developing world aged 15-19 years. Without trained doctors, nurses and midwives, this cannot be stopped. Worldwide, it is critical to develop strong health systems that can provide health care to all members of society. The International Health Partnership aims to help other countries improve their health systems and ultimately, ensure lives will be saved.
Why is it necessary to support each country's unique and specific health plan?
Too often health plans have been drawn up by just a few individuals, when in reality, health plans must reflect the needs of a country's citizens. This means not only more joint working across Governments, but also between donors, parliamentarians, NGOs and the private sector. Just as we demand the right to shape our health care system, the Partnership commits developing countries to creating comprehensive and effective health plans and commits developed countries to help put them into practice.
No greater cause:
As the Prime Minister has said, "there is no greater cause than ensuring that every child and every family in the world should benefit from the best medicine and healthcare."
Mumsnet members, I would welcome your insights and comments on how we tackle poverty and help families in the developing world.