Lusaka, 04 June 2015 - The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti has applauded the Zambian government for progress made in reducing deaths and illnesses amongst women and children under five years old.
Speaking at the launch of the Child Health Week, Dr Moeti observed that activities such as African Vaccination Week whose regional launch was conducted in April, 2015 in Zambia and the Child Health Week are instrumental in reaching all children with lifesaving interventions. She noted that it is a platform for which life-saving interventions can be used to reach children in hard to reach and underserved populations in an integrated approach.

“I wish to commend the country for taking the opportunity to maximise the reach of children with integrated services as well as institutionalising the initiative making it sustainable in implementation at service delivery level” she said.

Zambia was amongst the countries where pneumonia and diarrhoea were the major killers of young children but with the introduction of new vaccines against these two killer diseases, the country is in the process of ending the preventable deaths from these diseases.

“Stopping the loss of millions of young lives from pneumonia and diarrhoea by 2025 is a goal within our grasp; it is ambitious but achievable,” said the Regional Director, adding that “WHO recognizes that the task at hand is huge and I wish to commit my Organisation and the country to providing technical and financial support when possible to supplement the government’s efforts in ensuring that lifesaving interventions and services reach all eligible populations”.

Speaking at the same occasion, Professor Elwyn Chomba, Permanent secretary at the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health (MCDMCH), said Zambia aims to end preventable child mortality and illness by 2025. She stressed that the quality routine services being provided at health facilities will be supplemented with periodic intensive activities such as Child Health Week along with counselling for mothers and caregivers on their children’s health.

“We must take on the challenge to end preventable childhood diseases in our country by 2025 by offering quality services and community awareness, ensuring our mothers are counselled about child health,” Prof Chomba said.

In a statement read on behalf of Dr. Hamid El Bashir Ibrahim, the UNICEF Representative in Zambia by Dr Paul Ngwakum, Dr El Bashir Ibrahim echoed WHO’s acknowledgement of Zambia’s efforts in reducing illnesses and deaths of children under five years old. He said his organisation was also committed to support the country to implement Child Health Weeks.

“We commit to support the government of Zambia in implementing Child Health Weeks as they are an opportunity to reduce the equity gap. Child Health Weeks offer high impact and low cost interventions against preventable childhood diseases,” he said.

The Child Health Week initiative was initiated in Zambia in 1991 and it brings together critical services and interventions to create healthy environments, promotes practices known to protect children from disease and ensures that every child has access to proven and appropriate preventive and treatment measures. During the week, children, especially those in rural areas, will receive immunization, deworming medicines and Vitamin A. Mothers will also get advice on vital household practices such as breast-feeding and basic hygiene practices.

Dr Jacob Mufunda, mufundaj [at] who.int (mufundaj[at]who[dot]int); Tel: +260 977 771 270

C. Boakye-Agyemang,  Boakyeagyemangc [at] who.int (Boakyeagyemangc[at]who[dot]int);  Tel +47-241-39420, | Cel: +242 06 614 2401

Zorodzai Machekanyanga, Machekanyangaz [at] who.int (Machekanyangaz[at]who[dot]int); Tel | +47 241 38104 | Cel: +263 772 511 610