NAIROBI, 25 November 2008: UNICEFs inaugural report “The State of Africas Children 2008” was launched Tuesday by former president of Mozambique Joachim Alberto Chissano in Nairobi, Kenya.
During a press conference hosted by Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga, the renowned African leader called the report “an excellent blueprint on how to accelerate the attainment of health-related MDGS”.
The inaugural edition of The State of Africa’s Children complements The State of the World’s Children, UNICEF’s annual flagship report on the world’s youngest citizens. The report outlines some of the recent achievements in child survival and primary health care in Africa.
Despite hard-won gains, Africa, and particularly sub-Saharan Africa, remains the most difficult place in the world for a child to survive, says the report. With only 22 per cent of the world’s births, sub-Saharan Africa now accounts for half of all under-five deaths.
The report shows that in 2006, five million African children died before reaching their fifth birthday, an average of 14.000 a day. Of the 10 countries that have the highest under-five mortality rates in the world, sub-Saharan African countries accounted for nine. Between 1970 and 2006, sub-Saharan Africa reduced its under-five mortality rate by just one third.
The report urges all stakeholders – including governments, international agencies, non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector – to unite behind the goals of maternal, newborn and child survival.
– In the whole report the need of uniting efforts and solidarity is a common feature, remarked President Chissano. – It is now time to renew our commitment and efforts towards child survival and health. Together we can succeed in our quest to achieve social justice and sound health for the African children.
President Chissano paid a visit to an impoverished community on the outskirt of Nairobi. He met with a mother who just delivered her twin daughters at a local clinic three weeks ago.
– We know the most effective way to save children’s lives is by investing at the community level, said Olivia Yambi, UNICEF Representative in Kenya. – UNICEF strongly supports the decision by the government of Kenya to focus on community level action and the empowerment of families to protect their children and ensure that they grow to their full potential.
If sub-Saharan Africa is to meet the Millennium Development Goal of reducing child mortality by two-thirds by 2015, an annual mortality reduction rate of more than 10 per cent is needed over the next eight years.
Læs hele artiklen: www.unicef.org
