Rwanda has achieved and is on course to surpass health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs 4 and 5) related to reducing child mortality and improving maternal health.
According to the 5th Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) whose key findings were released last week, infant mortality has steadily decreased to 32 deaths per 1000 live births in 2014/15 down from 109 in 2000. On top of that, under 5 mortality has also decreased to 50 deaths per 1000 live births in 2014/15 down from 196 in 2000.
DHS findings further indicate that maternal mortality ratio (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) has also steadily decreased to 210 deaths in 2014/15 down from 1071 in 2000. According to the survey, 87% of children 0-5 months exclusively breastfeeding while 93% of children 12-23 months fully vaccinated.
“We are happy with the results, this shows that the interventions especially at community level and the efforts of health personnel at different levels are paying off. We remain ambitious to achieve even more because every Rwandan should have a healthy life,” Health Minister, Agnes Binagwaho said. She pointed out that the achievements were a result of multi-sector collaboration.
The survey further reveals that 91% of deliveries assisted and in health facilities. Almost all women receive antenatal care at least once during pregnancy. It also indicated that fertility among women reduced to 4.2 children per woman in 2015 compared to 6.1 in 2005, while 53% of women use contraceptives.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning attributed the good figures and success to heavy investments in the health Sector. “These results are a demonstration of what can be achieved when everyone works together with a shared objective to deliver on the Vision 2020, which is all about improving the lives of every Rwandan,” Minister Gatete said.
Key drivers of the success in the health sector include: Introduction of community health workers who have been instrumental in getting children treated within 24 hours of the leading causes of childhood deaths such as fever, pneumonia and diarrhea.
Other interventions include: Increase in the percentage of delivery assisted by skilled providers, Improvements in vaccination coverage, free antenatal care, distribution of mosquito nets and indoor spraying of insecticides, community based health insurance and performance based financing.
MDGs are a set of eight interdependent goals aimed at reducing poverty and improving the quality of life, particularly of the rural poor, and represent a global partnership resulting from the Millennium Declaration at the UN’s Millennium summit of 2000.
They are internationally considered as benchmarks of the progress a country is making towards sustainable development.
Source: MINECOFIN
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