BURUNDI: New health projects for women and children

NAIROBI, 7 Apr 2005 (IRIN) - UN agencies in Burundi announced new measures on Thursday, World Health Day, to improve the health of mothers and children.

"This day marks a decisive turning point in the management of pregnant women's health," said a press release by UN agencies.

The UN World Food Programme, the World Health Authority, the UN Children's Fund and the UN Population Fund published statements to highlight the new national project, launched at the Murama Health Centre in Muyinga Province.

The agencies said that 300,000 Burundian children would receive a new injection called a pentavalent vaccination, to protect them against numerous diseases, including diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, measles and tuberculosis.

A pilot scheme providing pregnant women with food supplements in the provinces of Makamba, Kirundo and Muyinga - was also part of the programme announced on Thursday.

Eventually, the agencies said, this pilot project would be extended to every province. Pregnant women would be provided with a monthly ration of nutritional tablets and mosquito nets, family planning counselling and treatment for intestinal worms.

The agencies also said that a "referral health system" would be set up to improve the management of obstetric emergencies.

Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye attended the ceremony at Murama Health Centre. He said that during the remaining period of transition rule, his government would ensure that all pregnant women had access to healthcare.

The agencies said of the 300,000 children born in Burundi every year, more than 57,000 died before the age of five years. Moreover, for every 100,000 live births in the country, 1,000 Burundian women die during childbirth or from related complications.

Burundi's new health initiative is part of a drive to meet two of the UN's Millennium Development Goals by 2015: to reduce maternal mortality by three-quarters, and under-five mortality by two-thirds.

[ENDS]