Speech on access to health and nutrition services

Every year more than 5 million women, children, and young people die from simple diseases that could have been avoided.

That is like the whole population of my country being wiped out. Every single year.

If something like that happened in Norway - or the United States - there would have been an outcry.

As it happens in the world’s poorest countries, it is allowed to go on in silence.

The time has come to put an end to this.

We must secure health and nutrition services for all.

For every woman,
Every youth,
And for every child.

Our tool for achieving this is GFF, the Global Financing Facility.

In November, Norway will host the GFF replenishment conference in Oslo.

If we succeed in raising two billion dollars for GFF, up to thirty-five million lives could be saved between now and 2030.

I’m therefore thrilled to announce great news today.

Norway has decided on the biggest contribution to GFF so far.

Over the next five years, we will contribute three-hundred sixty million dollars.

Let’s call on the governments of the world to join us – or even beat us.

Thirty-five million lives saved.

Think about that!

I cannot see a better call for action!