Infant deaths in Armenia unacceptably high – World Vision calls for systemic change
Some 442 children under age one died in Armenia in 2009 alone. Perhaps as alarming is the fact that the majority of these deaths occurred in families living in the poorest households of the country where infant mortality is three times higher than in the wealthiest households with 14 deaths compared to 41 per 1,000 live births.Deterioration of the health system infrastructure after the collapse of the Soviet Union, inadequate salaries at all levels of health care staffing, poor quality medical education, uneven distribution of health specialists in the capital and in rural areas and limited to no community outreach and information services had a negative impact on the general healthcare system, and particularly on the most vulnerable families.
We call for systemic changes, more specifically for increased financing of the healthcare system The majority of deaths occur in the perinatal period; 22 weeks gestation up to seven days after birth, followed by inborn defects and respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases, according to the Ministry of Health of Armenia.
Lack of awareness about safe behaviour in pregnancy, lack of proper nutrition and inability to access proper primary and/or secondary healthcare all contribute to the infant mortality rate in Armenia.
World Vision highlighted the alarming issues of child and maternal mortality as well as inequality of access to quality health care services in rural and urban areas by engaging with representatives of Government, National Assembly, as well as the United Nations, World Health Organisation, USAID, health professionals, and other civil society representatives during the launch of the “Child Health Now” campaign in Armenia.
“We call for systemic changes, more specifically for increased financing of the healthcare system in the country, as well as for ensuring equal access to quality health care through equal placement of health professionals across Armenia”, stressed World Vision Armenia National Director Graham Strong.
“Besides the increase of state financing, we also need to insert monitoring and evaluation system of the implemented health programmes. To be effective we need to engage every single citizen of the country in finding solutions to the existing problems”, said Ara Babloyan, head of the Standing Committee on Health Care, Maternity and Childhood of the National Assembly of Armenia, which is a partner in the “Child Health Now” campaign.
World Vision is not only engaging with officials, but is also offering support in finding solutions to the existing problems; particularly in developing innovative mother and child health care financing schemes and health care workforce strategy, updating in-service and pre-service medical education, strengthening the monitoring and evaluation system and organising maternal and child health awareness campaigns.
...to be effective we need to engage every single citizen of the country in finding solutions to the existing problems Further engagement and cooperation between the Government, World Vision Armenia and other civil society representatives working in the field were discussed during the subsequent “Maternal and Child Health Care” forum during which World Vision Armenia and the Ministry of Health called upon interested parties to unite in a Mother and Child Health Care advocacy alliance. Members of the alliance will subsequently organise working groups in which they will draft recommendations on policy change.
Recognising the key role of media in communicating maternal and child health care issues and urging the government to find solutions, World Vision also engaged with some 17 television, print, online and radio journalists who shared their commitment to highlight the issues in future publications.
World Vision has been implementing health initiatives through its ten Area Development Programmes, focusing on HIV prevention, mother and childcare and nutrition and promotion of healthy lifestyle and balanced nutrition. A number of publications, training courses and seminars have been offered to health professionals, educators and the general public.
We call for systemic changes, more specifically for increased financing of the healthcare system The majority of deaths occur in the perinatal period; 22 weeks gestation up to seven days after birth, followed by inborn defects and respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases, according to the Ministry of Health of Armenia.
Lack of awareness about safe behaviour in pregnancy, lack of proper nutrition and inability to access proper primary and/or secondary healthcare all contribute to the infant mortality rate in Armenia.
World Vision highlighted the alarming issues of child and maternal mortality as well as inequality of access to quality health care services in rural and urban areas by engaging with representatives of Government, National Assembly, as well as the United Nations, World Health Organisation, USAID, health professionals, and other civil society representatives during the launch of the “Child Health Now” campaign in Armenia.
“We call for systemic changes, more specifically for increased financing of the healthcare system in the country, as well as for ensuring equal access to quality health care through equal placement of health professionals across Armenia”, stressed World Vision Armenia National Director Graham Strong.
“Besides the increase of state financing, we also need to insert monitoring and evaluation system of the implemented health programmes. To be effective we need to engage every single citizen of the country in finding solutions to the existing problems”, said Ara Babloyan, head of the Standing Committee on Health Care, Maternity and Childhood of the National Assembly of Armenia, which is a partner in the “Child Health Now” campaign.
World Vision is not only engaging with officials, but is also offering support in finding solutions to the existing problems; particularly in developing innovative mother and child health care financing schemes and health care workforce strategy, updating in-service and pre-service medical education, strengthening the monitoring and evaluation system and organising maternal and child health awareness campaigns.
...to be effective we need to engage every single citizen of the country in finding solutions to the existing problems Further engagement and cooperation between the Government, World Vision Armenia and other civil society representatives working in the field were discussed during the subsequent “Maternal and Child Health Care” forum during which World Vision Armenia and the Ministry of Health called upon interested parties to unite in a Mother and Child Health Care advocacy alliance. Members of the alliance will subsequently organise working groups in which they will draft recommendations on policy change.
Recognising the key role of media in communicating maternal and child health care issues and urging the government to find solutions, World Vision also engaged with some 17 television, print, online and radio journalists who shared their commitment to highlight the issues in future publications.
World Vision has been implementing health initiatives through its ten Area Development Programmes, focusing on HIV prevention, mother and childcare and nutrition and promotion of healthy lifestyle and balanced nutrition. A number of publications, training courses and seminars have been offered to health professionals, educators and the general public.
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