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227 women per 10 000 die in Moroccan
while giving birth according to figures
of the Moroccan Ministry of Health.
Released on the eve of the World Health
Day, organized under the motto "Make
Every Mother and Child Count", the
figures show that neonatal mortality
reaches 27 per one thousand live births,
and mortality of children under 5 years
old is 47 per one thousand.
The total fertility rate is barely 2.5
children per woman, and life expectancy
has appreciably increased to stand at 70
years in 2001.
On the other hand, the 2004 census shows
that the demographic growth has been
slashed to 1.4% owing to the development
of the life conditions, but also to the
adoption of an efficient family planning
program.
Health ministry statistics also indicate
that 90% of the children between 12 and
13 months are vaccinated against
tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, diphtheria,
tetanus (since 2002, Morocco is ranked
by WHO and UNICEF among countries having
eliminated neonatal tetanus), whooping
cough, measles, and recently the
introduction of the vaccination against
hepatitis B and rubella.
World Health Organization (WHO) in
Morocco, Raouf Benammar, told Le Matin
du Sahara et du Maghreb daily that
despite limited resources Morocco holds
a "very honorable position" at the
international level that is above even
richer countries.
Benammar said that, for better
performance, Morocco needs to integrate
its health system in the comprehensive
socio-economic development program,
noting that Morocco's expenditures in
the health field remain beneath WHO
requirements.
According to a report released by the
WHO on the same occasion, "about 530 000
women a year die in pregnancy or
childbirth, more than three million
babies are stillborn, more than four
million newborns die within the first
days or weeks of life, and altogether
10.6 million children a year die before
their fifth birthday".
Through the 2005 Word Health Day, WHO
aims to raise the awareness of the
political organisms about the scale of
morbidity and mortality among children
and mothers, the sufferings they endure
and the consequences of such a plight on
the general health and socio-economic
development. |
