U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has launched a 40 billion dollar global health initiative that he says could save the lives of tens of millions of women and children worldwide. World leaders gathered at the United Nations this week have been reviewing progress on the ambitious 15-year plan agreed in 2000 known as the Millennium Development Goals. These eight goals aim to end extreme poverty, hunger and disease.With only five years to go, several of the goals are lagging behind schedule. Two of the goals in greatest jeopardy of not being met by 2015 are Goals 4 and 5 reducing child mortality and improving maternal health.Ban Ki-moon said in the 21st century it is unacceptable for women and children to die from malnutrition, childbirth and treatable and preventable diseases and called for change.At the launch, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced a new joint effort between the United States, Britain and Australia along with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Also participating in Wednesday's launch were the Prime Ministers of China, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Norway as well as the Presidents of Rwanda and Malawi.