Govt to halve child mortality by 2008

The Angolan government on Tuesday pledged to take steps to slash the appalling child mortality rate by half within the next four years. Almost three decades of civil conflict have given Angola the world's third-worst rate of child death, with one in four likely to die before they reach their fifth birthday, according to figures from the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Malaria, respiratory and diarrhoeal diseases and, increasingly, HIV/AIDS are the biggest child killers. Pruning the mortality rate is seen as a key priority for the government. The state-owned newspaper, Jornal de Angola, reported that the government, as part of its national strategic plan, would increase the availability of vaccines and improve the quality of, and access to, health services. The statement was made by Vice-Minister of Health Jose van Dunem at a meeting of health officials this week, the newspaper said. The plan, which is being hammered out by the health ministry, together with UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO), is still in the development phase, but it also includes measures to promote the health of mothers and cut the number of maternal deaths during childbirth by 30 percent. Mario Ferrari, UNICEF representative in Angola, applauded the government's "courageous" announcement as a sign that the country wanted to recuperate and put children first after the war, during which an estimated 60 percent of the country's health infrastructure was destroyed. Despite two years of peace, reconstruction of Angola's health services has moved at a glacial pace. Achieving a 50 percent cut in child deaths by 2008 would take focused commitment by all parties. "A 50 percent reduction in child mortality will require intense work, deep engagement between all actors, unremitting effort and sustained contributions from the government, the United Nations, NGOs and the private sector," Ferrari told journalists. "As the devastation in post-war Angola illustrates, realising this objective will not be easy and we will face many difficulties and complications, but it is feasible. I hope that all the parties see this is a vital contribution to Angola." Although the country is rich in oil and diamonds, many of its people still live in utter poverty. With 60 percent of the population under the age of 18, promoting child health is vital to recovery. "The children of Angola deserve nothing more than a profound effort to build a healthier and more hopeful future," Ferrari said.