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Patrick Chitumba Senior Reporter
THE country’s infant mortality rate of 57 deaths per 1,000 births remains short of the desired United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) target of 22 deaths per 1,000 births by 2015, a recent survey indicates.With the 2015 MDGs deadline approaching, maternal mortality statistics continue to be a major source of concern, as women and children continue to die as a result of preventable causes.

According to the latest Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) rural livelihoods report, the country has managed to make some progress in reducing the rate of under-five mortality.

“The infant mortality rate of 57 deaths per 1,000 births remains short of the desired MDG 2015 target of 22 deaths per 1,000 births,” reads part of the report.

“While some progress has been made towards reducing the rate of under-five mortality to 84 deaths per 1,000 births, this rate also remains short of the desired MDG 2015 target of 34 deaths per 1,000 births.”

ZimVAC national supervisors and enumerators were recruited from government, United Nations and non- governmental organisations and underwent training in all aspects of the assessment.

Local authorities such as the Bulawayo City Council have defied a government directive to scrap maternity fees for pregnant women insisting that it was not economically sustainable, despite Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa’s insistence that the fees should be scrapped. Shortages of trained health personnel and lack of adequate funding are some of the issues that have militated against the attainment of the MDGs. A report released by the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) recently said a high number of women and children continue to die of preventable causes with a few months before the deadline.

“With a year to go before the MDGs deadline, it’s unlikely that Zimbabwe will be able to meet its obligations. It’s estimated that as many as 10 women and 100 children die every day in Zimbabwe as a result of easily preventable diseases,” states the report.