BUJUMBURA May 30th (ABP) – The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS, Mr. Jean Baptiste Nzorironkankuze, indicated on Friday, May 27, 2022, that the celebration of the Day dedicated to midwives is an opportunity to make them aware of their role in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.
This Day is normally celebrated on May 5 every year. Mr. Nzorironkankuze said that according to WHO standards, there should be one midwife for 5,000 people, but in Burundi, there is one midwife for 50,000 people.
According to the results of the demographic health survey, he indicated that in 2017, there were 334 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and that they have the objective of reducing deaths to 140 deaths by 2030. The neonatal mortality rate is currently at 23 according to the results of this survey per 1000 births live, efforts are being made to bring this rate down to zero, he added.
The government of Burundi through the Ministry of Public Health, grants staff every year, after health training to reduce this mortality rate. It also continues to support the teams that were there, because there is still a lack of health professionals in the various health facilities. The Ministry of Public Health continues to carry out various sensitizations so that providers work diligently to improve the health of the Burundian population in general and the health of mothers and children in particular.