Morocco made great strides in maternal and child health: WHO

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Sidi Ifni, Morocco - According to the World Health Organization, Morocco has adopted a national plan to improve maternal and child health over the last year.

The Moroccan Minister of Health, El Houssaine Louardi, launched the plan on 13 November 2013 as part of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals. Since then, Morocco has made great strides in improving the health of mothers and children, reported WHO.

Whereas maternal mortality rates dropped by 67% between 1990 and 2010, the newly-launched plan aims at reducing under-five and maternal mortality rates by 82% by 2015.

The reform has come as part of a regional initiative called, “Saving the Lives of Mothers and Children,” launched by the WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA. The plan implements, evaluates, and ameliorates services for women and children. It also provides women with access to high-quality services at clinics and hospitals. Meanwhile, the new plan will entitle women to have access to free-of-charge services.

Dr. Souteyrand, a WHO representative in Morocco, noted: “This plan is going to make a real difference for women and children living in areas of the country where health services are most in need of strengthening."

According to the Moroccan Ministry of Health, not only will health workers receive additional training on how to practice more professionally, equipment and infrastructure will also be upgraded.

Among the additional facilities included in the plan is transportation for pregnant women, particularly for those who must undergo caesarean sections.

Commenting on the plan, Secretary General of the Moroccan Ministry of Health., Dr Abdelali Belghiti Alaoui, said, “This plan is critical for Morocco to accelerate reductions in maternal and child deaths.”

Edited by Katrina Bushko