Uganda's infant mortality rate still high
WHILE statistics show that the maternal and infant mortality rates improved between 2000 and 2008, latest data points at stagnation. Over 137 children out of every 1,000 born in the country die before their fifth birthday, while 76 infants out of every 1,000 die before their first birthday.
By Henry Mukasa
WHILE statistics show that the maternal and infant mortality rates improved between 2000 and 2008, latest data points at stagnation. Over 137 children out of every 1,000 born in the country die before their fifth birthday, while 76 infants out of every 1,000 die before their first birthday, according to Diana Sekaggya, an official of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
At least 435 women out of 10,000 die during birth, she added.
“These statistics are very high. Uganda is doing badly. It is likely that Uganda will not meet the millennium development goals (MDGs),†she noted.
Reducing child mortality by two thirds is the fourth development goal, while improving maternal health by reducing mortality by three quarters is the fifth.
Sekaggya, who is an associate economist with UNDP, made the remarks during a MDGs civil society organisations networking inaugural meeting.
The meeting, which was hosted by the United Nations Association of Uganda (UNAU) at Hotel African in Kampala on Tuesday, was aimed at forming a coalition to monitor the Government’s performance on the MDGs.
On HIV/AIDS, Sekaggya observed that the fight against the scourge had stalled.
She said while the prevalence rate had tapered from 18% in 2000 to the current 6.4%, new infections were on the raise.
“We should not be contented that Uganda has fought the battle,†Sekaggya said.
She, however, hailed programmes combating the HIV/AIDS spread and the transparency of messages to prevent the pandemic. Halting and beginning to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases is the seventh MDG.
On the fight against poverty, Sekaggya said while national figures suggest a reduction from 56% to 36%, statistics at district level paint a different and worrying picture.
The associate economist cited Soroti and Kasese districts where surveys showed that poverty rates stood at 84% and 60% respectively.
WHILE statistics show that the maternal and infant mortality rates improved between 2000 and 2008, latest data points at stagnation. Over 137 children out of every 1,000 born in the country die before their fifth birthday, while 76 infants out of every 1,000 die before their first birthday, according to Diana Sekaggya, an official of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
At least 435 women out of 10,000 die during birth, she added.
“These statistics are very high. Uganda is doing badly. It is likely that Uganda will not meet the millennium development goals (MDGs),†she noted.
Reducing child mortality by two thirds is the fourth development goal, while improving maternal health by reducing mortality by three quarters is the fifth.
Sekaggya, who is an associate economist with UNDP, made the remarks during a MDGs civil society organisations networking inaugural meeting.
The meeting, which was hosted by the United Nations Association of Uganda (UNAU) at Hotel African in Kampala on Tuesday, was aimed at forming a coalition to monitor the Government’s performance on the MDGs.
On HIV/AIDS, Sekaggya observed that the fight against the scourge had stalled.
She said while the prevalence rate had tapered from 18% in 2000 to the current 6.4%, new infections were on the raise.
“We should not be contented that Uganda has fought the battle,†Sekaggya said.
She, however, hailed programmes combating the HIV/AIDS spread and the transparency of messages to prevent the pandemic. Halting and beginning to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases is the seventh MDG.
On the fight against poverty, Sekaggya said while national figures suggest a reduction from 56% to 36%, statistics at district level paint a different and worrying picture.
The associate economist cited Soroti and Kasese districts where surveys showed that poverty rates stood at 84% and 60% respectively.