Sh2.5 trillion to combat infant, maternal deaths

By Francis Emorut                                                         

The Government has earmarked $682million (about sh 2.5trillion) to combat infant, child and maternal deaths in the country.

This is contained in a promise renewed plan titled: "Reproductive Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Sharpened Plan for Uganda.

The purpose of plan is to push for collective action towards achieving equitable accelerated improvements in maternal, newborn and child mortality rates in Uganda.

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Participants during the media orientation on a promised renewed reproductive maternal, newborn and child health sharpened plan for Uganda

The plan when implemented will see 137,573 deaths averted by 2017.
 
The Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda in his forward remarks says that the ministry will vigorously monitor the implementation of the plan to ensure that the priority actions and interventions are quickly instituted.

He called on the private sector, academia, development partners and civil society to join hands with government to execute the plan and prevent the unnecessary death of mothers and children across Uganda.

Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng the director general of health services points out that preventing maternal and child deaths requires a new way of doing business.


Ronald Ssentuuwa, newborn technical assistant displays a copy of maternal and child survival  during the media orientation on a promised renewed reproductive maternal, newborn and child health sharpened plan for Uganda

She notes that the plan will form focus for action and introduce a paradigm shift that will overcome obstacles so as to prevent avoidable death.

Esther Nasikye Child Health Now coordinator, at World Vision while briefing the media about the plan, stressed that the media should play a key role in creating awareness and causes all stakeholders to renew commitment to combat child and maternal deaths.

She explained that according to the plan the expected maternal mortality rate reduction is 211 per 100,000 live births by 2017 from the current position of 438 per 100,000 live births.

This was during media orientation on sharpened plan to save lives of mothers and children in Uganda at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala on Tuesday.

The plan indicates that under 5 mortality rate would be reduced from 90 per 1,000 live births to 53 per 1,000 live births by 2017.

As for infant mortality rate the expected reduction would be 30 per 1,000 live births from 54 per 1,000 live births while for the neonatal mortality rate would reduce by 10 per 1,000 live births from 27 per 1,000 live births all targeted by 2017. End