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Child survival is a disaster in Zambia- Minister

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The Ministry of Health says the issue of child survival is a disaster in the country.

Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao noted that government is concerned that the country is losing children at a worrying rate saying parents especially young mothers need to be educated on child health and survival issues.

Mr. Simbao noted that neither the President nor government takes pleasure in seeing children under the age of five dying from curable and preventable diseases.

He said child survival is a major health problem that needs strengthened inter ministerial intervention.

The Health Minister was speaking in Lusaka today at the Accelerated Child Survival and Development Policy Roundtable.

“Zambia is one country committed to the Millennium Declaration to address child mortality and quite much has been done. However much still needs to be done,” said Mr.Simbao.

And UNICEF Resident Representative, Lotta Sylwander said meeting the challenges of the deprivation and disadvantage of Zambia’s children requires concerted action at the local level, in communities and at national level.

Ms. Sylwander said Zambia is facing a significant burden of poverty, insecurity and ill-health.

“In this prevailing context, children are taking the most difficult burden. There are more poor children than adults,” said Ms. Sylwander.

She pointed out that improving results for children depends on renewing their hopes and aspirations.

Earlier United Nations Resident Coordinator, Macleod Nyirongo revealed that every year 9.7 million children under the age of five die world wide mainly due to preventable diseases such as malaria, respiratory infections and diarrhoea.

Dr. Nyirongo further revealed that in Zambia alone, over 100,000 children die every year before reaching their fifth birthday saying 40 percent of these deaths occur in the first month of the children’s lives.

He pointed out that meeting the global tally for the child survival MDG will require that over the next seven years the country cuts half the number of children who are dying before their fifth birthday.

Dr. Nyirongo called for serious investment in the health of young children saying this is one sure economic perspective.

The UN Resident Representative said more needs to be done to increase access to treatment and means of prevention to address the impact of some of the diseases.

And the USAID Mission Director Melissa Williams said the US is committed to child health programmes and to reduce child mortality by two thirds by 2015.

Ms. Williams said the survival of children is key to Zambia’s future and development.

She said the US was pleased with some of the programmes put in place by government that aim at reducing child mortality.

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

84 COMMENTS

  9. Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao must have read the article in LT about the sista who lost her baby in UTH! Let the govt do something! twa lema! 8-|

  11. This health minister Kapembwa Simbao is clearly a spectator in that ministry. Instead of telling people about what he is doing over this problem, he is busy talking about how his president or the government are not taking pleasure in seeing under five children dying from preventable disease. It’s not long that we hve been reading a sad story of babies who died in their incubators at UTH after a power failure. This Zambian culture of being seen to be merely talking is very bad!

  14. ba health minister what do u minister!!! talk about the solutions of the problem rather than coming out like ur RB.Its like we dont have leaders who can do but who can only talk and get paid for it. God help zed

  15. “Zambia is one country committed to the Millennium Declaration to address child mortality and quite much has been done. However much still needs to be done,” said Mr.Simbao.

    JUST WHAT THE HELL DOES HE MEAN BY “much need to be done”? MUCH WHAT? MUCH TALKING? SOME MINISTERS CAN BE SO ANNOYING!

  16. This man is not only dull but annoying. Doesn’t he know that govt can take policy measures to tackle children mortality rates? These are the people we have entrusted with power and yet deep down their hearts they have no clue about what they are doing in those Ministries.What are his qualifications this incompetent man?

  18. This reminds me of poeple like the late Kamalondo who used to say ‘I am a MCC not because I am educated but because I am loyal to his Excellence the President Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda and no one else’. And yes, we are still suffering because their incompetence in the name of loyalty to the appointing authority.

  20. This business of rhetoric……much needs to be done…..we are looking into a solution……we are actively discussing the situation…etc, etc,….blah,blah…words!
    Can we eat words? Will you translate your words into medicines, better hospital hygiene, universal healthcare mr. minister?

    I am so sick of these politicians mwebantu, i wish someone would just drop a mini bomb on parliament one day……

    VIVA change!

  23. Kapembwa bululu,u r in a wrong ministry & u know that.The other day u were proposing compulsory HIV testing,am sure its boredom coz u have nothing to offer in that ministry apart from reading speeches prepared by yo PS

  26. :-\” The minister is trying to find someone to blame. That is why he is offering no solution. He is not sure what his job is. Maybe he was not given a job desription. Definately a UNZA graduate. Thinking about it, most of our politicians are UNZA graduates, the only politics they know is UNZASU politics. So when they get into government they are still looking for the government to blame not knowing they are now in government. You are better off with form 2s like KK at least he had a vision.

  27. Thats why i choose not to have kids born there.dont give uxcused and blame the poor mother. just do the righful duty of serving zambians by providing relevant health and education facilities let alone afordable food.children die from lack more than ignorance

  29. How does the biggest hospital of the land lack a generator,the cheapest is about 30million honestly even a politician can afford from his pocket.not forgeting the rude nurses awe takwaba, Zambia has been reduced to ethiopia or somalia. in afew years it will get even worse

  30. #30 its a sad thing to say .i know its offensive too but i cant help but be frustrated, tukesa nga bafyalwa elo bakulako for nipa holiday chabe naka medical insurance just incase

  31. I strongly suspect Simbao was the minister LPM was talking about when he said a certain ministry was going to be visited for corruption.This man was trotting all over the country allegedly checking on road contracts but we all have seen the type of shoddy work these contractors have done and they have been paid billions.Even those contractors LPM wanted investigated are scot free now.They truly oiled those in authority.

  33. ugliy chikita!!! Zedians try and make beautiful children, maybe you will look after them with a little bit of love and care.., ugliy babies are a waste of space >:) therefore neglected and not loved by anyone, only child abusers and slave traders#:-s

  35. Zambians let’s demand action and refuse speeches. They are not in Government to speak and blame one other. We don’t want them to play with our minds, we need results. From today no more speeches we want to see performance. God bless Zambia.

  36. #30.Hey Iam happy you are okay.how are you coping up with the weather that side? I checked the temp for Denmark,Hey i was I felt sorry for you when i saw that it was -1 degrees celcius.Iam happy you are still alive.Iam thinking of a way to send you my precious Jersey.It will keep you warm.

  37. Mr Kapembwa Simbao dont just speak to fufil the programme.If you people were serious,that baby who died at UTH in the article before this one wouldnt have died. These characters are never serious on anything.100,000 babies dying every year,this is too big a number. Why should it be so when these deaseses are preventable.Infant mortality rate wil be reduced only when serious leaders form government.No these people whose medula oblangaters are jammed.Am not happy because of the article of that woman whose baby suffocated to death,when the ventilator machine could not work to support its life.Because of mmd government and Sisala.

  38. #30 matworld ,im glad weekens is close so i can keep indoors, all in all im fine. im just sad about the woman who lost the baby due to lack of competent leaders,ala ndafulwa chishupa fye..then simbao come in the media with his stories umo ukulopola ala ukiti baleka.

  39. CHILDREN IN ZAMBIA CAN NEVER SURVIVE WITH A CROP OF POLITICIANS WE HAVE IN OFFICE. THEY ARE SO GREEDY, SELFISH THEY DON’T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH CHILDREN DYING. THE FIRST THING THEY DO WHEN THEY GET ELECTED IS INCREASE THEIR PERKS, BUY $150,000.00 MERCs, ETC. WHEN PF AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC WANT TO PROTEST ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING THEY ALL START BARKING. THESE SO CALLED LEADERS ARE ABSOLUTELY EMPTY IN THEIR HEADS. VILLAGERS NOW MUST REALISE THE MISTAKE THEY MADE TO ELECT THIS OF BUNCH OF CROOKS BACK TO POWER WITH ENHANCED CROOKEDNESS. YOU CAN JUST SEE HOW THEY ARE EMBRACING THEIR FELLOW CROOKS. MORE THAN 40YRs OF INDEPENDENCE YOU CAN’T FEED YOURSELVES? JOKERS.

  41. ALL THESE DISEASES ARE (ALL) FROM LACK OF FOOD. YOU CAN NEVER SURVIVE ANY DISEASE IF YOU DON’T NOURISH YOUR BIOLOGICAL SYSTEM. THE SAME MONEY YOU ARE USING TO BUY THOSE CARS FOR YOURSELVES IS THE MONEY WHICH SHOULD HAVE GONE INTO PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, WELFAIR SERVICES, SCHOOLS, ETC. YOU GUYS ARE SHAMELESS.

  44. #42,that would be a big mistake. Has zambia been at war before.Kuti bafilopola ubibi kuli Mugabe. When their stomachs are full of nshima.Ninshi kusabaila at lets invade Zimbabwe. What a joke! To tell the truth,Zambia can be pounced upon and hammered on the nose until they surrender.

  45. #17 Baby C I’m loving yo reaction to the, for lack of a bettah term, allegation. Whether you fyala or not is not the bone of contention here and I think it was tastless and lame for for #13 nuff crisis to say that.

  46. #42,you know what?when boxers are in the ring,when one throws a punch, the oponet uses his hands to prevent or stop it from reaching the nose.But if Zambia invades Zimbabwe,they can be hammerd on the nose without guarding it and no retariating.Mpompo and friends baya sana. They want to receive the biggest shock of their lives.

  47. As usual our plitician only ever pay lip service to important issues when someone else has organised a workshop or symposium. Once the event passes, they forget what they said and it’s business as usual. It would be refreshing to see a ministry that actually announces and implements and initiative that benefits people. Instead the ministers just attend these things for a free lunch. They say things they don’t mean and they leave. They have PhD’s in giving platitudes.

  48. Individuals also need to take responsibility for their own lives. People have too many kids without thinking about the consequences.

  49. What u hear from minister is true and will be worse, no plans to mitigate the ever rising cost of food, more children will die in the coming few yrs unfortunately. Most of these guz don’t think hence they have to blame someone and not offer solutions.It would be nice to have team of intelligent people look into these problems and they get rewarded for offering solutions not the NCC way my GOD forbid.

  50. Iwe matworld ukutinalya ka chize mmmmh,,, akabwali kena nalifilwa cuhita minimise guys..howz south i heard cholera is acting funny ku boarder hope you are far away,you know i appreciate you so pliz take care,but Bob just claimed its is over there is no cholera in Zim anymore.. ba guy kadobo sana

  52. YEH!! BY THE WAY THIS IS ANOTHER RIGHT CAUSE FOR A PROTEST. ZAMBIAN MUST PROTEST AGAINST THIS PLANNED INVASION AGAINST OUR NEXT DOOR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. THEY WERE NOT ELECTED INTO POWER TO START BREWING UP TROUBLE FOR THE ALREADY SUFFERING PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA. THEY CAN’T SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS BUT THINK THEY CAN SOLVE ZIMBABWE’S PROBLEMS. F@@LS. NEXT TIME PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA MUST LEARN NOT ELECT A PARTY WITH NO PLANS FOR THE COUNTRY. THIS IS WHAT IDLE MINDS PLAN. BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE SEEN TO BE DOING SOMETHING. JUST THE OTHER DAY RB WAS EVEN MOCKING PIPO THAT THEY PUT HIM IN PRISON. MEANING PLOT 1. WHAT A F@@LISH UTTERANCE!

  53. #50 super gal South is cool so far,my mai worry is the same cholera.I have a feeling that this desease will bring another xenophobic attacks.pantu south african are so mean,they always find something against foreigner.I just want to finish my course then move out of this country full of stiff necked pipo.Thank you so much appreciating me I will try my best to take care of myself,of course with the help of Yaweh.

  54. “The Ministry of Health says the issue of child survival is a disaster in the country.”

    And all #1 ‘Beyonce says’ says is “number 1”. Let’s, for once, be serious when dealing with serious issues.

    Coming back to the issue at hand:for as long as budgets for our clinics and hospitals are not met, the situation will not improve.

    Boma seems to have all the money for all sorts of elections and other ventures for leaders’ aggrandizement. But when it comes to “life and death” matters for general citizenry, the coffers somehow dry up. This is criminal and unforgivable.

  55. #51,am PF.And if Sata wil remain with one member, that will be myself.If it means the boat sinking i will sink with it.I will never jump out.Am so serious about Change but the hinderances Kalale and VJ are busy blocking that!

  56. So far some of the ideas are: 1.stop the rhetoric, yapping, paying lip service, talk-talk…, but rather be action heros! 2.individuals take responsibility before you have your next child 3.don’t buy those flush vehicles rather invest the money in the health service and those sectors which will enable individuals to feed their children properly 4. stop being greedy and selfish- have a heart for us the people 5.above all, be true leaders. I wonder if anyone of them knows what a true leader is? BE SELFLESS YOU GUYS.

  58. #51,am PF.If Sata will remain with one member that will be myself.If the boat wil sink i would rather sink with it than jumping out.Am serious about change but Danny Kalale and VJ are the hinderances.

  60. #57,i didnt change my name.I dont know why LT had to use the name anonymous even when i did print my name.Thats why i sent the same message again.

  61. #59.I have just emailed you I really need something that will put a smile on my face.Iam a very handsome guy.My elder brother tells me that when am sad I become ugly.so please help me Pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase!.

  62. # 54 Enigma.
    Your note about how we’d rather gloat about a first posting rather than comment effectively kinda just highlights our weakness as Zambians.
    Here on LT we go on day in and day out condemming this and that but just working with some of the comments here, we’re not so different from those we love to disrespect.
    There’s nuthin wrong with being first and being happy about it just include something worthy of your time peeps.

  64. # 62 Mule: your points are valid indeed.

    I suspect the reason for having web-logs (blogs) is being lost on us. If you ask me, I’d say the primary and substantive one is to have a forum for interaction – sensible and logical. That way, even the people we see with logs in their eyes, particularly politicians, would take us seriously. If they don’t, then that’s their watch when they end up with a Greece-like situation on their hands – violent demonstrations and what-have-you!.

  67. I thought the Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao must have read the article in LT about the infanticide going on at UTH due lack constant supply of electricity! What a shame 🙁

  68. The baby in the picture represent the anguish of the many suffering children in a land (Z) which is richly blessed with abundant resources. Where are the intellectuals to lead us to prosperity. God help us.

  70. # 67 Ichipwa:

    One can only hope that the Hon. Minister of Health or his agents have read that sad article. But a good minister is supposed to be proactive. He should act before disaster strikes. That’s why government is so expansive and expensive as it is expected to foresee such things by putting pragmatic plans in place and ensuring that they work.

    Minister, what say ye?

  71. I think Ministers should stop reading speaches prepared by yes bwana. THey will never speak reality if they continue reading speeches prepared by those who want to be praised. 🙁 Why is the minister mute about the UTH murder case? Seriously If the power cut deaths have the truth in them someone highly placed should condemn the incidence and act positively to console the mourning.:( It is sad. sad. sad.sad sad.sad.sad indeed.

  74. #34 How can you call minister’s son “Ugly”? That child is Tandeo’s, young brother of Mulongoti. And remember all Children are angels

  77. The Citizens Democratic Party has put the Draft Manifesto; see why the party is different and more Zambians are joining.

    Type as ONE Word;

    |the citizens democratic party “dot” com|

  78. How can someone in their right frame of mind say the baby in the picture is sweet, when it is obvious the child is hungry? Walipena iwe?

  80. hey VW,I can’t see yo take yet on another health issue,hope all is well with yu.it is shameful to have such a comment from the minister himself when it is crystal clear that the government has failed in the health sector.44yrs after independence,we still have children dying of malnutrition even in cities like lsk.what do yu expect in chama or chilubi or lusitu etc?secondly,zed has trained over 3000 Drs frm time ridgeway was opened yet we have less than 600 zed Drs currently in the country with places like chama,chilubi,chiyengi and name then,no ever zed Dr has ever set foot there.out of 51000 needed health staff in zed,the country only have about 28000,the Qn is why?

  82. frm 80,reasons are simple,GRZ has facilitated the exodus of our trained staff by simply creating bad working environment fo them.when i was home,it was amazing how many nurses were leaving the country fo UK,N/ZELAND,Australia etc,how many of Drs i personally new left fo namibia,botswana,S/A,UK etc, and our GRZ saw nothing wrong with that,this is a disater! are we going to train pipo fo namibia and botswana simply bcose we can’t give them descent housing,living wage,good working environment etc?with the current state of affairs,lowering infant and maternal mortalities is all but a dream.bwana min sir,it has little to do with our citizens but a total failure on the part of GRZ.

  83. No surprise about competences of our Ministers and MPs. By the way what is reported they said are speeches writted for them. Infact they hold those portfolios to read speeches and claims allowances. This continues coz as Zambians we have and continue to allow this. Is there any sensible reason why a GRZ must not be held to account publicly for babies to die coz of power failure at an Institution which is supposed to be the centre of Medical excellence in the country? The minister, PS and the entire UTH management and Board must go!!!!

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