Dr Oyewale
By Dickson Bandera
UNICEF representative to Zimbabwe Dr Oyewale has reaffirmed the international body’s commitment to ending preventable deaths in Zimbabwe through maternal and new born health interventions.
While infant mortality in Zimbabwe has been reduced from 1068 per 100 000 births in 2002 to 362 in 2022, statistics still indicate that the burden of newborn deaths is high hence commitment by UNICEF to join forces with stakeholders in finding a solution.
Between 1990 and 2019, neonatal mortality rate has increased from 27 to 32 deaths per 1,000 live births in Zimbabwe. This increase has occurred despite the high coverage of prevention of Mother-to-Child transmission (PMTCT) interventions at 93% (DHIS2, 2023), antenatal care uptake at 93% (ANC1) and 71% (ANC4) and, and institutional delivery with skilled birth attendants at 86% (MICS, 2019).
In his keynote address at the Annual Scientific Conference of the Zimbabwe Medical Association, Dr Tajudeen Oyewale reassured that UNICEF will continue its partnerships with government and other stakeholders in addressing challenges in newborn health care in Zimbabwe.
“As we celebrate progress in maternal health, and in keeping with the theme of the Congress, let us also reflect on the persisting challenges in addressing newborn health in Zimbabwe and across many developing Countries.
“As you know, the majority of neonatal deaths (75%) occur during the first week of life, associated with preterm birth, intrapartum-related complications (birth asphyxia), infections and birth defects. From the end of the neonatal period and through the first 5 years of life, the main causes of death are pneumonia, diarrhoea, birth defects and malaria.
“Malnutrition is the underlying contributing factor, making children more vulnerable to severe diseases,” explained Dr Oyewale, who is also a medical doctor by profession.
“I wish to reassure that UNICEF will continue to support the vision of the Government of Zimbabwe as articulated in the National Health Sector Strategy and its investment case towards achieve Universal Health Coverage for all women, children and newborn in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Dr Oyewale took the opportunity to commend the Ministry of Health and Child Care and her partners for its leadership of the health sector, as well as the great progress made during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also noted the current improvement in routine immunization coverage for children, post-covid and the several efforts undertaken to address outbreaks such as cholera, measles and polio.
“These efforts have kept our children safe, and UNICEF is proud to be a partner to the Government,” he said.
“UNICEF is also grateful for the support we receive through the Health Resilient Fund, led by the Ministry of Health, from the Government of UK and Ireland, the European Union and Gavi-the Vaccine Alliance, which has allowed us to sustain our support to the national health sector,” he added.
The theme for this year’s Scientific Conference focused on tackling emerging health issues in Zimbabwe and this gave the medical field an opportunity to bring focus on newborn health.