KIGALI, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda is striving to significantly reduce maternal, infant and under-5 mortality rates, the ministry of health said on Friday.
To this end, efforts will be made to increase immunization coverage for children and sensitization to pregnant mothers, said Health Minister Diane Gashumba.
The minister was speaking at the Rwanda pediatric association scientific conference in the capital Kigali dubbed: "Updates on pediatrics in Rwanda."
According to her, under-five mortality in Rwanda reduced from 152 in 2005 to 50 deaths per 1000 live births in 2015, infant declined from 86 to 32 per 1,000 live births and maternal mortality from 1,071 in 2000 to 210 per 100,000 live births in 2015.
"We are looking at reducing these numbers to below 30 in per category in the years to come," said the minister, adding that maternal and infant mortality rates could be significantly reduced if community health workers visited pregnant and new mothers regularly.
During the campaign, community health workers will engage families across the country to understand comprehensive and rapid interventions to reduce mother, infant mortality rates.
According to the ministry of health, the decline in mother, infant mortality rates enabled Rwanda to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5 that were related to maternal and child health.
The two-day forum that opened on Thursday aimed at sharing latest data on achievements within the pediatric and neonatal field, the main challenges that Rwanda still faces in the area, and possible solutions.
The conference also looks to provide clinicians with the latest information on current issues in pediatrics in the country. Enditem
