The Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi will on 4 May 2012 officially launch the Campaign for Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) in South Africa. The minister will be joined by the MEC for Health in KwaZulu-Natal Dr SM Dhlomo, AU Commissioner for Social Affairs Advocate Bience Gawanas, Ms Graca Machel and musical icon Yvonne Chaka Chaka, amongst other dignitaries. More than 300 delegates are expected to attend including SADC member states.
The launch of CARMMA will be held on 4 May 2012 at Osindisweni Hospital, Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal. Members of the media are invited as follows: 09h00 – 10h00. Join Minister Motsoaledi and the dignitaries in a visit in the maternity waiting homes for lactating mothers, kangaroo mother care, maternity wards and obstetric ambulances. A press conference will follow immediately after the visit.
CARMMA is an initiative of the African Union Commission to curb the continentally high pregnancy related deaths. It was launched at continental level during the African Union Conference of Ministers of Health in May 2009 in Ethiopia under the theme “Universal Access to Quality Health Service: Improve Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health.”
High maternal, perinatal and under-five morbidity and mortality are some of the formidable development challenges in Africa. The disturbing part is that the large number of deaths is due to preventable causes. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that as many as 1 500 women die every day, worldwide, due to complications related to pregnancy or childbirth. Similarly, 10 000 babies die per day within the first month of life and an equal number of babies are born dead. More than 90% of these deaths occur in developing countries, most of them in Africa. Although Africa is home to 10% of the global population, it contributes to almost half of all child deaths worldwide.
Although the principal focus of CARMMA is maternal mortality, it is also about child mortality because of the impact of maternal mortality on children and families. Children who lose their mothers are up to 10 times more likely to die within two years of their mother’s death than those whose mothers are alive. CARMMA is designed to be nationally driven and owned. It enjoys strong support and partnership from several United Nations bodies, bilateral interests, foundations and nongovernmental organisations, and they support governments in the implementation of post-launch action plans.
In South African maternal and child mortality remains unacceptably high. Through this event the department seeks to reduction of maternal and child mortality through accelerated implementation of evidence-base interventions to improve maternal health and child survival.
CARMMA will be launched under the theme “South Africa Cares: no women should die while giving life”.
For more information please contact:
Fidel Hadebe
Tel: 012 395 8493
Cell: 079 517 3333
Chris Maxon
Cell: 083 447 2869
