Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has committed himself and his department to doing everything possible to reduce maternal, infant and child mortality in South Africa.
Speaking at the 63rd World Health Assembly meeting in Geneva yesterday, the health Minister told delegates including the World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan that he has committed himself to reducing the high number of infant and child mortality and thus place South Africa on the path to realise the millennium development goal (MDG) of the drastic reduction of maternal, infant and child mortality in our country.
"Independent reviews have clearly shown that in Sub-Saharan Africa our goals will not be achieved by 2015, my country is one of those which were found to be lagging behind.
"I am committed to changing this situation, and I wish to share my hope and conviction with all my colleagues who have to meet these targets, that the situation can be reversed. We are hopeful that this will be within the five years we have until 2015", said the Health Minister.
The Health Minister shared with delegates at the assembly some of the measures his department is implementing to address the unacceptable rate at which mothers, infants and babies are dying in South Africa.
These measures include the newly implemented treatment guidelines for HIV and AIDS for pregnant mothers who will now get treatment at CD4 count of 350 or less.
"As a country we also know that the main causes of maternal and child mortality is associated with HIV and AIDS and TB. It is for this reason that our response to improve maternal and child mortality rates include effective measures to fight HIV and AIDS and we are determined to launch ourselves on a trajectory that will dramatically bring about improvements in health," said Motsoaledi.
The minister in his speech also placed a huge emphasis on the expanded immunisation programme currently underway in the country for both measles and polio.
The week-long meeting in Geneva is attended by over 160 Health Ministers to discuss a range of healthcare issues which include: pandemic influenza preparations, human resources for health and recruitment from under developed and developing countries and counterfeit medicines.
For more information please contact:
Fidel Hadebe
Tel: 012 312 0663
Cell: 079 517 3333
Issued by: Department of Health
18 May 2010
