|
JOBS | TENDERS | DATING |
|
|
THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Feb 11 2012 01:43 | LAST UPDATED Feb 11 2012 01:43 |
|
It is clear that not enough is being done to decrease the deaths of newborns and their mothers in South Africa, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said on Tuesday. "We cannot allow a single woman to die in childbirth or neonate to die because of our negligence or a child not to reach five years of age. "It will be criminal for us to allow any of these things to happen. Unfortunately there is no other word for it but criminal," he said. Motsoaledi was addressing a summit on neonatal, child and women's health in Boksburg. He was "shocked" when briefed by chairpersons on ministerial committees about the issue. What they told him was reinforced by documents prepared by the Development Bank of South Africa last year and more recently by reports prepared by academics, for Lancet, on health in South Africa. All these reports suggest that the country has the correct healthcare policies and guidelines. The challenge has been and continues to be their implementation. Motsoaledi said health outcomes such infant and maternal mortality had a number of causes such as poverty, illiteracy, lack of proper housing and lack of access to clean water and adequate sanitation. Another cause was lack of access to good quality health services.  CONTINUES BELOW He said a third of deaths among women and children were avoidable. "This state of affairs cannot be allowed to stand," he said. -- Sapa TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE
comment guidelines
|
Client Media Releases
IN THIS WEEK'S PAPER
SUBSCRIBE: - Paper edition - iPad edition (NEW!) - Kindle edition - Digital edition Read stories online  @mailandguardian - Top stories & newsflashes @NicDawes - M&G editor Nic Dawes @ChrisRoperZA - Editor, M&G Online @amabhungane - M&G Centre for Investigative Journ @mgfeed - Our whole news feed Advertisements |
Contact Us | About Us | Story Tip-offs | Social media policy | Online Advertising | Print Advertising | Subscriptions | Topics A-Z | Mobile Sites | Privacy Policy | RSS Feed
All material © Mail & Guardian Online. Material may not be published or reproduced in any form without prior written permission.
 |
 |