Red Cross of Myanmar, Denmark and Britain signed a cooperation agreement here Thursday to launch a five-year program (July 2012-June 2017).

The "Healthy Mothers and Children" program covers 23,000 people in 75 rural communities in Chin state, Mandalay and Sagaing regions.

The Danish Red Cross and the British Red Cross will provide technical support to find out innovative solution and financial support worth over 5 million US dollars for the community based health development program.

"We expected to improve health status of mother and children and reduce maternal, neonatal and child mortality and morbidity," Professor Tha Hla Shwe of the MRCS told Xinhua, adding that MRCS staff are sent to the areas where least number of aid agencies are present.

The program targets communities to develop and provide essential maternal, newborn and under-five child health service including family planning, counselling of pregnant women, attendance of delivery by skilled health workers, health education for mothers through "Mother Clubs" and household visits, community management of most common communicable diseases including diarrhea, HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, construction of water sources and improvement of hygienic and sanitation practices.