ZAMBIA RECORDS REDUCTION OF MATERNAL NEW-BORN DEATHS IN FIRST QUARTER
President Hakainde Hichilema says Government is committed to improving the health status of its people in the country in order to realise meaningful economic development.
Mr Hichilema said Government has since rolled out a number of interventions such as the recruitment of health workers and expansion of health facilities to enhance quality health care services to the people among others.
ZANIS reports that the President was speaking in a speech read for him by Vice-President Mutale Nalumango during the Maternal and new-born Health Summit in Lusaka today, Mr Hichilema noted strides that Government has made in reducing maternal and neonatal deaths.
“My Government considers quality health as a cornerstone for economic development, so to effectively address maternal and neonatal deaths, we devised several interventions such as an increase in budgetary allocation from 12 to 15 percent this year.
He added that Government also recruited health workers and expanded health facilities to improve health care services.
The Head of State further disclosed that Government will this year recruit additional 4000 health workers to add to the recently employed 14,000.
Mr Hichilema said provision of essential drugs has been improved to about 80 percent while a medical fund facility has been established in a bid to stabilise the medical supply chain across the country.
The President however bemoaned the high maternal and neonatal deaths that the country has continued to record though there has been a significant reduction.
“let us ensure that we identify the root causes of maternal and neonatal health problems that the country is faced with so that the challenges can be tackled in a holistic and concerted approach as Government alone cannot manage to address it,” he said.
Meanwhile Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo commended President Hichilema for the tremendous support rendered to the Ministry of Health, especially during times of pandemics such as Cholera and COVID-19.
Ms Masebo explained that Zambia is currently faced with the challenges of maternal and newborn health issues which require concerted efforts.
She however stated that the number of maternal newborn deaths have significantly reduced especially during the first quarter of 2024 as only 172 maternal deaths were recorded.
Ms Masebo also praised President Hichilema for the robust approach towards improving the health sector by recruiting health workers and construction of maternal annexes at every health centre across the country to address the welfare of pregnant women and others.
She also paid tribute to Government for the increase in the budgetary allocation towards the health sector to the tune of 15 percent as opposed to 12 percent in the last budget.
And World Bank Country Representative, Ackim Fock pledged his organisation’s commitment to work in collaboration with the Government in addressing the issues of maternal neonatal health issues in Zambia.
He said the World Bank believes that health for mothers and babies is the foundation for a healthy and economically viable environment, and commended Government for the increase in the constituency development fund which has helped to improve the health sector among others.
In addition, United Nations Country resident Coordinator Beatrice Mutali also observed that there is a need to bring maternal and neonatal deaths to zero by 2030.
She pledged the UN’s total support to the Government through financial support in a quest to strengthen the health sector especially in rural areas to access quality health care services
Additionally, United States Embassy charged Affairs Linnisa Wahid, who is Deputy Ambassador to Zambia, said the US Government has committed K1.4 billion to Zambia to address maternal and neonatal health challenges.
She explained that the US Government has put a high premium on health especially pertaining to maternal and neonatal health issues hence the contribution of funds towards the health sector.
The Summit is held under the theme call to action for accelerating the reduction of maternal and neonatal deaths in Zambia through multi- multi-sectoral approach.