NORTHERN PROVINCE

The First Lady Jeannette Kagame has called upon Rwandans to commit themselves in prevention and community sensitization to reduce maternal and child mortality.

She said this while launching the Mother and Child Health Week at Nyakinama Health Centre in Musanze District of the Northern Province.

The First Lady said that the maternal mortality rates of 750 deaths per 10,000 live births and 62 child mortality per 1000 live births, as indicated by statistics, should be seen as reminder for the responsive action towards saving the lives of mothers and children in Rwanda.

She said that the sensitization should allow the members of the community to take their responsibility in health matters by prioritizing antenatal care, family planning and quick response to risky conditions related to pregnancy.

She said that women, especially those in decision making positions should have a programme of education to sensitise others on preventive measures of maternal related problems.

The week which was organized by the Ministry of Health, aims at enforcing the actual level of signs for Rwandan mother and child survival and also encourage communities to engage in health matters.

The Minister of Health Dr Richard Sezibera said that whereas maternal and child motility rates have reduced since 2005 by 30  percent, there was need for increase in knowledge of preventive measures of different parasites, their ways of transmission and proper hygiene to stop preventable diseases.

The week was launched by giving Vitamin B to children, an exercise that was conducted by the First Lady, while an immunization injection against the five diseases was conducted by the Minister of Health.

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