The Ministry of Health has observed that high disease burden among children in the sub-Saharan Africa was a barrier to economic growth of many countries in the region.
Minister of Health, Brian Chituwo said these barriers needed a serious development strategy which should help reduce the disease burden in the region.
Dr. Chituwo said many of the diseases which children face could be prevented by readily available and affordable vaccines.
He was speaking at the Peadiatric Bacteria Meningitis, rotavirus joint meeting and workshop on polio, measles and yellow fever laboratories in Lusaka today.
He said the Zambian government has considered the eradication and elimination of vaccine preventable diseases as an important factor in the healthy of children.
Dr. Chituwo emphasized the need to provide critical interventions to protect children from diseases through effective immunization services, coupled with effective case-based disease surveillance that is supported by quality laboratory pragrammes.
He said the latest demographic and health survey findings show that Zambia has recorded a significant reduction in the mortality rates though many challenges still remained.
Dr Chituwo noted that achieving the health related Millennium Development Goal (MDGs) was one of the greatest challenges in the international development which was still far from being achieved.
He pointed out that to achieve success in the MDGs, there was need for seriousness of purpose and political resolve by all countries.
Dr Chituwo has since called for an appreciable measure of support from high income to low income countries on a sustainable and well-targeted basis.
And WHO country representative, Olusegun Babaniyi said the global immunization partners have a vision that the world will benefit from integrated laboratory and programme monitoring network which was dedicated to optimizing the surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases.
Dr Babaniyi said the network would provide high quality information needed to measure the impact of vaccines and maximize their safer, effective and equitable use at country, regional and global levels.
He pointed out that this would enable countries in the region to eliminate the burden of vaccine –preventable diseases.
ZANIS/AH/KSH/END
why do you want to increase your salaries when you even know that children need the same money in order to leave.its in human
#1-or sorry live
Mr Chituwo,it’s sad that you’ve only just realised the seriousness of this issue. I guess you were too busy pursuing your personal political interests. Illness, morbidity and death diminishes labour potential and perpertuates vulnerability and destitution amongst children. We need policies that will provide equitable and sustainable access to public health and increase funding in this area (with proper management of funds).
Imwe munaphunzilako za matenda na mankhwala (medical practitionaers), post your comments. Muzalenga tiyambe ku kamba out of context. Tizabwelesapo nkhani ya Mulongoti.
This is just rhetoric. You know the problems at hand, so why not just act. Ministers in Zambia talk more than they act. In the western world you rarely get to hear minister ranting and raving all the time. They just work underground and their activities manifest.
Its so sad that this same minister wants his salary and allowances increased more than 300% while the children are dying of simple ailments and sometimes just lack of oral rehydration salt.
I remember in the Kaunda era, we used to get even milk biscuit at primary school, colgate and a pyramid of milk.
MMD guys are jokers and they need to be booted out.
# 5 Musimbi I hear you.
Like #5 pointed above, Chituwo should just work silently and let the results manifest. Is he rantling just to appear to be working? Be careful or people might confuse you for a job seeker like Mulongoti and TETA. You are right in saying many of the diseases which children face could be prevented by readily available and affordable vaccines. Many a time we channel our resources in wrong projects….
#3, i have always liked your postings. How can i reach you ?
Health before work is priority. A productive generation is a healthy generation.
DR Chituwo is a job seeker just like all politicians in Zambia that’s why he is panicking now.
When will these ministers stop being selfish….they send their children outside the country for university,the never visit the UTH and so on…Whoever we will vote for should make it mandatory for everyone in “government” to go to UTH only then will they clean the place up. God will surely deal with them all,there is time for everything.
MAYO IYEE NE MULANDA
its sad that our polititians dont care for the pipo that vote them in to office.we surely have to cut the medical allowances for them to travel to other countries.let them feel the wreath of UTH,lack of panado,smelly wards,nurses with attitude,terrible meals, they will change as their famillies will experience what we go thru when sent their.hope mulongoti and chituwo can spend a nite their and eat that cold dry food then you will see how quick theyll change.Sata has his weaknesses but the time he was minister of health he made a diffrence we could even get better service as nurses feared to be fired.but now no one cares,many have died right at the doorstep the due to negligence,
a few yrs ago i actually heard from people that worked with chituwo that dispite him being a doctor his position as minister of health is more political and does not represent the fact that being a dr he can lobby and advocate better conditions for the health system but frustrate those that want to work for the common good of every zambians health.they are just good at geting their children to the top qualified or not.
Ba Chituwo! Elo mwa ishiba ati insala ibi? Ifwe kali twaishiba!