Chronicle Editor
Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, [email protected]
THE United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), in its 2023 annual report, commended the Government for its unwavering dedication to children’s welfare. Notably, there has been a significant increase in immunisation coverage against childhood illnesses.
Additionally, the collaborative efforts of the Government and its partners have yielded tangible progress in areas such as nutrition, education, water and sanitation.
“The deployment in 2023 of 1 466 vaccine carriers, 60 remote temperature monitoring and 1 000 fridges to 60 targeted districts together with training of health workers resulted between 2022 and 2023 in diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DPT3) coverage increase from 80 to 97 percent, and measles-rubella (MR1 and MR2) vaccination increase from 79 to 94 percent and 69 to 86 percent,” said Unicef.
“Facility-based integrated Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination outreach reached 95 207 girls (HPV1) and 36 829 girls (HPV2) compared to 13 681 (HPV1) and 14 357 (HPV2), respectively. The training of 2 046 healthcare workers on integrated management of childhood illness resulted in 92 percent of facilities having at least one trained health worker in 2023.”
The report highlights that health commodity procurement played a significant role, contributing to 81 percent of facilities with stock-outs of essential medicines. Additionally, the implementation of result-based financing in 60 districts led to a reduction in the proportion of facilities charging user fees, declining from 2,35 percent in 2022 to 2,31 percent in 2023.
“Under the Health Resilience Fund (HRF), coordinated by the Ministry of Health and Child Care there was refurbishment of new-born corners in 56 health facilities and training of 697 health workers, supported by Unicef, led to 53 percent of women attending at least four Antenatal Care (ANC) and 92 percent of births attended by high-skilled personnel.”
The HRF was implemented with funding support from Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, the European Union (EU), and the Governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom. Additionally, technical support was provided by UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), Unicef and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
During the same period, the training of 15 000 village health workers (VHWs) resulted in an increase in villages with trained VHWs for health promotion, rising from 83 percent in 2022 to 90 percent in 2023.
“These reached 5 894 574 people and contributed to an increase from 72 percent in 2022 to 84,9 percent in 2023 in children, 0-59 months, receiving appropriate care for diarrhoea using Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and Zinc.”
The Community Health Information System was rolled out to enhance decision-making in seven provinces.
Unicef country representative Dr Tajudeen Oyewale highlighted the accomplishments of 2023 and said that both the country and its partners deserve applause for their resilience and commitment to children.
“Through our collaborative efforts, we realised tangible results, reaffirmed our dedication to uphold the rights and welfare of all children, everywhere and at all times in the country. Our collaboration in health is strengthening the national system and accelerating progress toward essential healthcare services through budget advocacy, human resource capacity improvement initiatives and procurement of health commodities and contributing to improved immunisation coverage, including for outbreaks and quality management of childhood illnesses,” he said.
Online Reporter