Concerted efforts needed to save mums and children

By ENNIO KUBLE
COMBINED efforts are still needed to address the unacceptable deaths of mothers and children in the country from preventable diseases.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) has the highest maternal and infant mortality rate in the Pacific region.
“Reproductive health poses challenges that are tremendous compared to communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis,” said the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Director Duah Owusu Sarfo.
Mr Sarfo said all parties in the Government, private sector and donor partners should work together to improve the situation.
He said one area is improved mobility of health workers to communities with medicines and awareness programmes.
To make that possible, UNFPA with the support from New Zealand AID donated eight four-wheeler vehicles to the Health Department to ease transportation hassle.
Mr Sarfo said the vehicles would serve the purpose to improve service delivery in the provinces.
Health Secretary Dr Clement Malau, in accepting the keys to the vehicles, said the support was valued.
Dr Malau said the vehicles would help address the issue of mother and infant deaths in the country.
He said mobility of health workers was a contributing factor in service delivery.
Provinces of East Sepik, Western, Enga, Simbu, Central, Bougainville and National Capital District are the recipients of these new vehicles.
The Health Department’s safe motherhood programme that has been started to address the issue is among the five priority health issues incorporated into the medium-term development strategy.