The MEC for Health will, this Friday, unveil the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health’s Plan to turn around the delivery of maternal and newborn services in order to improve the outcomes and move closer to meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) four and five.
The MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, describes the current situation where expectant mothers die during pregnancy or at birth and says; “The great tragedy of maternal mortality is that it robs families of their mothers at precisely the moment when they are needed most. A mother’s death is like no other. A newborn that has lost its mother is ten times more likely to also perish. Surviving children grow up without their mother’s nurture and care. Families are left impoverished. In isiZulu we say; Inyanda imuke nezibopho – plainly meaning the there is no hope”.
The country’s report on MDG (2010) shows an astounding increase in maternal deaths from 150/100 000 in 1998 to 625/100 000 in 1998 whereas the MDG target is 38/100 000 by 2014. The main causes of maternal deaths have not changed over the past ten years, since the establishment of the confidential enquiry into maternal deaths. Unfortunately, due to lack of community based mortality figures, it is not possible to report on the actual under five and infant mortality rates. However, all indications are that the rate of under mortality in increasing.
The country’s report on MDGs shows an increase in under five mortality rate from 59/1 000 to 104/1 000 live births between 1994 and 2010. Infant mortality rate has remained the same for the same period, at 53 deaths per 1 000 live births in 2007, a far cry from the expected 20 deaths per 1 000 live by 2014.
The department will unveil a plan to turn around the disturbing picture of the maternal and newborn care service in the province at an event to be held as follows:
Date: Friday, 29 October 2010
Time: 09h00
Venue : KwaMakhutha Clinic, KwaMakhutha
The event will be attended by the First Lady MrsThobeka Madiba-Zuma, Queen Thandi Ndlovu-Zulu, and partners from an organisation called PATH.
“This plan will bring together government, leaders from all sectors, communities and women’s groups to unite and accelerate action. After the launch our work must continue until MDG 4 & 5 has been reached. Change is possible – we do not need to live in a world where women fear for their own lives at the moment of giving life to others. But this change will not happen by itself. All of us must play our parts in whatever way we can. If it means we must continue to advocate for changes, big and small, as long as it helps to save women’s lives,” the MEC added ahead of the launch.
The media is invited to attend as there will be photo and interview opportunities.
For further information and confirmations, please contact:
Chris Maxon
Cell: 083 447 2869
