UNICEF’s Flagship report was launched by the First Lady of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mama Salma Kikwete together with the Norwegian Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr. Jon Lomøy, the UNICEF Representative, Mr. Heimo Laakkonen and one representative from the Government of Tanzanian on the 29th of January, 2008.
- Increased political will, resources and sound strategies are required from all child survival stakeholders to reduce the global rates of child mortality, the UNICEF’s flagship report - The State of the World’s Children 2008: Child Survival states.
Children’s interest on the Agenda
All the speakers at the launch underlined how important it is to work in partnership and take collective responsibility in ensuring maternal and child survival.
The Norwegian Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr. Jon Lomøy, commended UNICEF for its important work, and for reminding the development partners and the Government of the importance of putting children’s’ interest on the development agenda.
- Child survival is about emotions and statistic. We must build on our emotions to mobilise resources to reduce the number of children and mothers that die of reasons that could have been solved, Lomøy said.
Increased political will
By making reference to the findings of the report which shows the gains made at the global level on reducing child mortality, the First Lady of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mama Salma Kikwete, said that though commendable, a lot needs to be done to quicken the pace of progress towards the achievement of MDGs in Sub Saharan Africa.
- Today’s launch of the State of the World’s Children Report is not only an opportunity to review the progress that has been made globally and at the country level on child survival, but it is also an opportunity to once again remind our government and leaders at different levels of the commitment made in ensuring maternal and child survival, the First Lady said.
Norway is taking the lead
The First Lady praised different stakeholders including Norway for taking the lead in championing the maternal and child health related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
In February 2007 Norway and Tanzania signed the Norway-Tanzania Partnership Initiative (NTPI), which is a cooperation to reduce mother and child mortality in Tanzania.
- Norway has committed approximately USD 40 mill. to support the Government of Tanzania and research institution to accelerate progress towards MDG 4 and 5, Mr. Lomøy said.
Tanzania not yet on the track
Speaking at the same occasion, the UNICEF Representative, Heimo Laakkonen noted that for the first time, in 2006, the world recorded less than 10 million child deaths a year. He said that a global review showed remarkable progress in reducing child mortality since 1990.
While noting that Tanzania is still not on track to meeting MDG 4 on reducing the global rate of under-five mortality by two thirds between 1990 and 2015, Mr. Laakkonen said that results of the current focus on integrated delivery of health services and continuum of care have demonstrated that high impact child survival interventions can be feasibly delivered even in low income settings.