CUF MP takes govt to task in Parliament

Riziki Omar Juma (Special Seats-CUF)

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare was yesterday taken to task by the National Assembly for budget cuts in funds allocated for the purchase of delivery equipment for pregnant mothers.

 

Riziki Omar Juma (Special Seats-CUF) told the House that despite the ministry’s stated policy to put priority on reducing maternal deaths and child mortality, the budget set aside for the same is inadequate.

 

The trend shows the funds for the purchase of equipment used during delivery of mothers in the past three years in hospitals were being reduced by nearly Sh1bn annually, resulting in increasing maternal and infant deaths.

 

Responding, the Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children Dr Pindi Chana said the trend was due to financial constraints.The noted that in 2012/2013, the government set aside Sh4bn for delivery equipment while in 2013/2014 the allocated amount dropped to Sh3bn, further dropping to Sh1.5bn during 2014/2015.

 

However, she pointed out that the government has introduced various mechanisms to ensure maternal deaths and child mortalities are contained.

 

“One of the strategies includes a programme launched on May 15, last year by President Jakaya Kikwete to reduce children’s deaths under the age of five years,” Dr Chana added.

 

She told the House that the president had ordered all regional commissioners to ensure they closely monitored the directive and helped reduce such deaths, further urging them to produce implementation reports every three months.

 

The deputy minister said the government was involving all stakeholders in the health sector to see how best they could collaboratively participate in reducing maternal deaths and child mortalities.

 

Some of the stakeholders collaborating with the ministry in this campaign are World Lung Foundation, Plan International, Care International, Jhpiego, UNFPA and GIZ Dr Chana. The ministry would continue collaborating with other stakeholders to curb maternal and child mortality, she said.

 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN