#Tanzania: Govt Moves to Cut Infant Mortality Sumbawanga — THE government has ordered Regional and District authorities to allocate a sufficient budget for equipment and obstetric emergency care services in hospitals and health centres as a way of reducing maternal and infant mortality. This was said here on Saturday by Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda during an event to mark the White Ribbon Day. The day is marked in remembrance of women who died while giving birth and advocating for improved health services to reduce such deaths. In a speech read on his behalf by the Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Seif Rashid in Mtowisa Village in Sumbawanga District, the Premier said that maternal and infant mortalities remain a critical challenge in the country. He pointed out that having in place well equipped hospitals and health centres was the only way through which the deaths would be reduced. The African demographic health surveys indicates that in Eastern Africa, Tanzania holds the second position in the number of women dying out of 100,000 live births with 454 deaths. The first is Uganda with 437 deaths, Rwanda comes third with 476 followed by Kenya 488 and Burundi 500, he said. He added that the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare wanted Big Results Now in the reproductive health section, adding that putting in place better health care services was critical. Mr Pinda pointed out that putting allocating 15 per cent of the budget as per the Abuja Declaration of 2001 was the governments plan. He added that limited resources have always been a hindrance in achieving the target. The current budget had placed priority in other sectors such as infrastructure which are also crucial in ensuring reliable transportation which is another avenue to ensure reduced deaths, he said. He added that the government would make sure that the health budget is increased alongside other supportive sectors. Mr Pinda noted further that Tanzania is one of the six African countries with speedy reduction of under-five and infant mortality by 54 out of 1,000 live births and 26 out of 1,000 live births respectively. (Y) Hope for Africa ******************* like Comment Share
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 07:00:00 +0000
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