KHARTOUM, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Sudan is exerting great efforts to reduce maternal and newborn children mortality rates by enhancing reproductive health services.
Earlier in the day, Sudan's Health Ministry published the result of its most recent survey to determine the need of the health institutions relating to emergency health services for mothers and children.
The survey was launched in 2017 in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
"The efforts made by the ministry during the past period in the interests of mothers and children have contributed to reducing the death rates from 537 deaths per thousand live births among mothers to 216," said Sudan's Health Minister Bahar Idris Abu Garada in a joint statement with UNFPA and UNICEF.
The future focus will be concentrated on the newborns, nutrition and maternal health, he said, even as the results of the survey has demonstrated responsibilities for both the government and its international partners.
Garada also highlighted the Sudanese government's commitment to providing political and fiscal support to the cause.
Meanwhile, UNFPA praised Sudan's efforts to reduce mortality rates among mothers and children, referring to its five-year strategy to improve the health services for mothers and children.
UNICEF said the results of the survey would help clarify the current status and speed up efforts to achieve the aspired objectives.
On Sept. 28, 2016, Sudan launched the national strategy for reducing maternal and newborn mortality rates in the country.
The strategy, known as "10 in five," aims to improve the health situation in 10 fields within five years, including reproductive health and maternal and newborn children mortality.
The strategy finds support from the UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the UNFPA and a number of other international partners.
