Herald Reporters
THE World Health Organisation has urged Government to accelerate efforts towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals if it is to achieve set and agreed global health targets by the year 2015. Speaking at the first of the five sessions lined up for 2012 dedicated to health MDGs in Harare yesterday, WHO representative Dr Custhodia Mandlhate urged the Government to reconsider its target to reduce by two thirds the number of women dying during delivery.
According to the latest Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey, the number of women dying during delivery has increased from 725 deaths for every 100 000 live births to 960 deaths for every 100 000 live births.
Based on the 1999 figures of 228 per 100 000 live births, Zimbabwe’s target was supposed to be 70 per 100 000 live births.
“A lot needs to be done ranging from community education, health delivery system and ante-natal care promotion, and policy decisions have to be made,” Dr Mandlhate said.
She urged Government to re-look into this target and probably set a more realistic target on maternal mortality.
On MDG 5, which is aimed at reducing child mortality by two thirds from the 2000 figures, Dr Mandlhate also said there was need to improve the health delivery system, promotion of primary health care and advocating increased budget allocations.
Zimbabwe’s target was to reduce child mortality to 34 per 1 000 by 2015. However, the rate currently stands at 57 per 1 000 live births.
“This means one child out of 12 dies before they reach the age of five years,” Dr Mandlhate said.