Canada's foreign aid agency, Grand Challenges Canada announce global health partnership

"Canada's foreign aid agency will work with Grand Challenges Canada in a bid to bring ideas for health innovation to the developing world, International Co-operation Minister Julian Fantino says," the Globe and Mail reports. "Fantino announced the partnership with the federally funded group Tuesday morning as he opened a multi-day Grand Challenges Canada meeting in Ottawa," the newspaper notes, adding, "Fantino used his opening speech to tout Canada's contribution to maternal and child health through its landmark Muskoka Initiative and call for new ideas that can help increase maternal and child survival."

"'Our efforts in saving the lives of mothers and children are delivering measurable results,' he said, adding, 'We also know that overcoming the challenges that exist calls for other, innovative approaches,'" the newspaper writes. "He called innovation in health a 'critical piece of the development puzzle,' and one that can involve partners from a variety of sectors, including private companies," the Globe and Mail notes (Mackrael, 12/11).