Russia has contributed more than $120 million to a G8-funded initiative to fight infant mortality in developing countries, a senior Russian diplomat said on Tuesday, Dec 24, according to RIA Novosti.

In 2010, the eight largest economies announced the so-called Muskoka Initiative to collectively spend an additional $7.5 billion between 2010 and 2015 for reducing maternal, infant and child mortality in the world’s poorest countries.

Ambassador-at-large Vadim Lukov, Russia’s deputy presidential envoy to the G8, said the Russian funds are directed at purchasing medicines and equipment, training doctors and creating a system of post-natal health monitoring for mothers and their babies.

Russia helps 12 countries as part of the initiative – Armenia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Angola, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Vietnam and Namibia.