Health professionals will converge at the Potchefstroom Hospital on Friday, 17 August 2012 for the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) summit. Held under the theme "North West province cares: no women should die while giving life", the summit will explore methods designed to curb high maternal, perinatal and under-five morbidity and mortality.
The latest Saving Mothers, Babies and Children reports will be shared. These reports will highlight the causes of deaths, including Avoidable factors that contributed to these deaths. Furthermore, Delegates will robustly engage on various interventions that are needed both at Community level, Primary Health Care Level and Hospital Level for better Health outcomes.
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.
The media are invited to the CARMMA summit scheduled to start at 9h00.
For enquiries and interviews please contact:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za or tlekgethwane@gmail.com
