- Source: IRIN
African Union (AU) Commissioner for Social Affairs, Biencé Gawana, insists that African countries should focus on promoting maternal, infant and child health and reporting on progress. During a summit on child and maternal health in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the members of the AU agreed to create a continent-wide campaign to stress the importance of child and maternal health. While Africa has some of the highest rates of maternal, infant, and child mortality, progress is being made. As information and communications technology and innovation continue to grow, health officials are certain that the improvements to maternal, infant and child health will be “paramount”. In addition, the AU has proposed a pharmaceuticals manufacturing plan, which will allow countries within Africa to produce their own drugs and medicines.
In the hope of reducing child and maternal mortality, which are key indicators of the health of any community, 60 nursing aides in Sierra Leone have recently been awarded certificates for passing a course specifically educating them in child mortality. While there is a lack of qualified health workers willing to work in health throughout Sierra Leone, the graduation of these 60 nursing aides shows that Sierra Leone has heeded the advice of the AU, and has taken steps to assure that infant, child, and maternal mortality decreases over time.
Tags: africa health news, maternal health, rural health care, sierra leone, sierra leone health
