Western Cape's to Combat Child Mortality Rate

That seven percent (7%) of children in South Africa, according to a Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) report do not survive to their fifth birthday, is horrific and completely unacceptable. "That is why the Western Cape Department of Health has already begun to roll out a provincial "saving mothers and children" plan, which aims to reduce the mortality of children under the age of 5 years to 30 per 1000 live births and maternal mortality to ninety (90) per one hundred thousand (100 000) live births by 2015," said Theuns Botha, Western Cape Minister of Health.

However, figures in the Western Cape are slightly better than in the rest of the country, Botha said. Children in the age group 0-15 years constitute more than twenty five percent (25%) of the total population of the Western Cape. Trends in mortality indicators show that the national figure for infant deaths in their first year, is forty eight (48) per one thousand (1000) live births, while the Western Cape figure is twenty six (26). The national figure for child deaths before five (5) years is seventy three (73) per one thousand (1000), while the Western Cape figure is thirty nine (39). HIV Aids and social and health service related factors have the greatest impact on these figures. While better than other parts of the country, the Western Cape figures are still totally unacceptable.

The major causes of childhood deaths are diarrhoeal disease, lower respiratory tract infections and perinatal conditions with HIV/AIDS and malnutrition contributing as both primary and underlying causes of child mortality.

The Western Cape's implementation plan focuses on saving children by reducing the Perinatal Mortality Rate (PNMR) and Early Neonatal Death Rate (ENNDR). Actions include Vitamin A supplementation to babies in their first year.

Health care workers will also be visiting hospitals and managers to ensure that the correct neonatal equipment was procured for nurseries. Budgets have been approved for the placing of continuous positive airway pressure machines in district hospitals. Training procedures are in place on essential steps in managing Obstetric Emergencies in neonatal resuscitation.

There are plans in place to reduce diarrheal disease by ten percent (10%) over the next five years.

The Western Cape has achieved great success with the implementation of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission and research has indicated that currently infant mortality in the Western Cape is approaching levels seen before the advent of the HIV-epidemic. This has been achieved through the provision of two anti-retroviral drugs to the mother and baby during pregnancy and at delivery of the baby. The current levels of transmission in the Western Cape are at around four percent (4%) which is the lowest in the country, and is expected to decrease further with triple antiretroviral therapy interventions.

In addition the Western Cape Department of Health has to date immunised ninety percent (90%) of children under fifteen (15) years of age against measles and polio.

Issued by:
Theuns Botha
Western Cape Minister for Health