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Second National Pediatric Conference: “For the Health of our Children”

February 17, 2010

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WHAT: Second National Pediatric Conference: “For the Health of our Children”

WHO: National and International Health Experts from Mozambique, International Organisations, and Non-governmental Organisations

WHEN: February 24 – 26, 2010

WHERE: Centro de Formação das Telecomunicações de Moçambique (TDM).

IMPORTANT DATE FOR THE PRESS

• Wednesday February 24, 2010, from 8:00 – 9:00

Opening of the conference by:
Over the past 20 years, significant progress has been made in improving the survival and health of Mozambican children. In last the two decades, the mortality rate for children under five declined from 219 to 138 per 1,000 live births, and the infant mortality rate declined from 147 to 90 per 1,000 live births.

However, Mozambique continues to have one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world. The improvement in child health and survival has not equally benefited all parts of the country, and many children and women, especially in rural areas, continue to be at risk.

Every year, about 86,000 infants die before reaching one year of age and 38,000 die before reaching the age of five, mostly of preventable diseases, including malaria, acute respiratory infection, tuberculosis, malnutrition, and HIV and AIDS.

Under the theme “For the health of our Children,” the 2nd National Paediatric Conference builds on the momentum of the 1st National Paediatric Conference held in 2007, discussing key issues in child health. This year´s conference will bring together more than 250 national and international health experts from places such as Tanzania, South Africa, Malawi, Portugal, and Angola to exchange experiences and discuss strategies for accelerating advances in newborn and child health in Mozambique. Topics to be discussed include:

• The impact of the new WHO pediatric HIV treatment recommendations on the cohort of children in the Chamanculo pediatric clinic;
• Intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) in children-efficacy in Mozambique;
• Evaluation of the nutritional status of the children on ART — Pediatric Department, Central Hospital Maputo.

During the three-day meeting, participants will look at integrated health approaches that focus on interventions that have proved most effective in tackling the main causes of child deaths.

The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the largest commitment ever by any nation for an international health initiative dedicated to a single disease — $18.8 billion dedicated over the past five years and another $30 billion dedicated for the next five. PEPFAR includes programs to prevent HIV infection, and provide comprehensive care and treatment to those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS.

The conference is organised by the Ministry of Health with the support of the President’s Emergency Initiative for AIDS Relief, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs, UNICEF, and the Standard Bank.