JAPAN AND UNICEF STRATEGISE REDUCTION OF CHILD AND MATERNAL MORTALITY

The Government of Japan has donated U.S. $ 1.9 million  to UNICEF in support of effective strategies to reduce child and maternal mortality rate in Sierra Leone.

The Japanese Government‘s assistance has been very vital as the Government of Sierra Leone has further strategically refocused the country programme to accelerate work on child survival. The project targeting more than 1,500,000 children under five years, pregnant women and women of childbearing age, and which will be implemented by UNICEF will contribute to the efforts exerted by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF to improve child and maternal health in Sierra Leone.

At  a signing ceremony which was held at the Ministry of Development and Economic Planning 's Conference Room, the Director of Medical Services Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Arthur Williams,  said that the Government has strengthened its partnership with other agencies such as UNICEF to develop, implement and closely monitor a strategic plan for child survival.
The Japanese Charge d’Affaires in Sierra Leone,  Yutaka Nakamura,  commended the Government of Sierra Leone for the tremendous efforts made over the past two years in the resuscitation of the health care delivery services nationwide. Mr. Nakamura said they are ready to strengthen these laudable interventions and also to play a part in redeeming Sierra Leone from its present position in the Human Development index.

The UNICEF Representative,  Geert Cappelaere,  said that Sierra Leone’s attainment of the Millennium Development Goals related to the maternal and child health is very close to their hearts. The UNICEF Country Programme with the Government of Sierra Leone, he said, is designed to achieve the MDGs especially on child survival and development.