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The kits were handed over to the ministry at a colourful handover ceremony held at the Ministry of Health and Child Care Head Office today.
Speaking at the ceremony on behalf of the Minister of Health and Child Care, Principal Director Preventive Services Dr Gibson Mhlanga said, “this is an important event where we are here to witness the handover of 63 neonatal resuscitation kits from Nestlé Nutrition Institute Africa.”
“We would like to thank the Nestlé for heeding our call and providing 63 neonatal resuscitation kits valued at $7000 to be used for the training…this signifies great private sector support aimed at reducing the national neonatal morbidity and mortality rates,” said Dr Mhlanga.
The Director of Family Health Dr Bernard Madzima, also commended the donation pointing out that the donation will go a long way in capacitating the Help Babies Breathe (HBB) program.
The HBB program is an intervention targeted to reduce preventable neonatal deaths from birth Asphixia.
“The Ministry with the support from partners, has managed to train service providers across the country in neonatal resuscitation through a program called helping babies breathe so as to prevent deaths that are caused by birth asphyxia that occur around the time of birth,” said Dr Madzima.
Nestle Nutrition Institute Africa Board Member Irene Sambo argued that, “the kits were bought upon a request from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, this donation will boost available material to ensure effective training for Healthcare Professionals. This will help to reduce neonatal mortality in Zimbabwe which currently stands at 29 per 1000,” she said.
She pledged NNIA’s support to the HBB program.
“NNIA will be offering support in conducting trainings. We hope that through this initiative we will together strengthen Healthcare Professional capacity in neonatal care,” she said.
“NNIA is an educational multi-disciplinary organization dedicated to the science of nutrition partnerships and collaboration to create synergies towards the positive development of our society which are very critical,” she explained.
Global goals state that countries by 2030 should end preventable deaths of new borns, all countries are aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1000 live births.
In light of this Zimbabwe also set a target to reduce national neonatal mortality to at least 20 per 1000 live deaths by 2020.
