NAMIBIA: Karas to Tackle Mother and Child DeathsFebruary 18th 2009 The Karas Regional Health Directorate has vowed to reduce maternal and child deaths in the region. Addressing participants at a one-day seminar at Keetmanshoop yesterday, Karas Regional Health Director Pume Katjiuanjo said there was no justification for women dying in childbirth. "We want a zero maternal mortality rate," he said. The health director also expressed concern over the high teenage pregnancy rate in the region, which stood at between 12 and 15 per cent in the past year. The highest teenage pregnancy rate of between 12 and 18 per cent was recorded at Keetmanshoop, followed by Karasburg with between eight and nine per cent, while Lüderitz recorded the lowest rate of eight per cent. Statistics revealed that three mothers died of childbirth complications in the Karas Region between 2004 and 2007, while 144 newborns died in the past three years. Keetmanshoop recorded 121 deaths of newborns, followed by Lüderitz with 21 deaths, while Karasburg recorded only two deaths. Statistics further revealed that 218 children under the age of five died in the region between 2004 and 2007. At Karasburg 93 deaths were recorded, followed by Keetmanshoop with 76 while Lüderitz recorded 49 deaths. The number of deaths of children under one year in the region stood at 134 for the past three years. At Luderitz 60 deaths were recorded, followed by Keetmanshoop with 50, while 24 deaths were recorded at Karasburg. Slow foetal growth, premature birth, malnutrition, respiratory disorders, diarrhoea, pneumonia and other infections were the leading causes of child deaths. Katjiuanjo said these figures might not reflect the true picture because many maternal and child deaths and teenage pregnancies were not reported to the health facilities. Source: AllAfrica.com 18 February 2009 http://allafrica.com/stories/200902180604.html |