Mathema seeks UN help over sanctions

Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Minister of State for Matabeleland North province Ambassador Cain Mathema has appealed to the United Nations (UN) and its agencies to help the country in its fight against illegal sanctions, saying the measures were militating against the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Officially opening the H4+ Inter-country annual planning meeting at a hotel in Victoria Falls yesterday, Ambassador Mathema said sanctions were negatively affecting strides by the country to reduce child mortality and maternal deaths.

The workshop, which started yesterday and is expected to end on Friday, draws participants from different UN agencies and international donors.

“Since the start of the last decade, Zimbabwe has witnessed an unparalleled decline in key maternal and new born health status indicators and is far from achieving MDG 4 and 5.

“Economic challenges caused by illegal sanctions have caused a reduction in funding for health services and the little achievements we have are a result of working together — so we appeal that you support us remove these sanctions as you have also seen how they have affected mothers and new born children in our country,” said Ambassador Mathema.

He added that there was a need for infrastructural development, especially health facilities in rural areas to guard against preventable deaths among expectant mothers and new born babies.

He said in remote areas such as Binga, some women die due to failure to access health centres because of poor roads, but at the same time the said facilities lack essential services as a result of budgetary constrains.

The minister said Zimbabwe’s maternal mortality ratio of over 500 deaths per every thousand births was far off target of 174 deaths per thousand births by year 2015.

Gender equality, adolescence and reproductive health are some of the topical issues under discussion as it was noted that health centres were not friendly to youths.

Countries were urged to harness the new “every new born action plan” to be launched in Johannesburg next year, an initiative that would see still births being recorded.

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency representative in Zimbabwe, Ulrika Hertel, singled out gender inequalities and early child marriages as some of the challenges confronting society today.

UN acting resident coordinator Reza Hossaini challenged the international community to help health sectors in developing countries fight preventable causes of death, adding that although significant progress was being made in Zimbabwe, much still needs to be done.