MCTV News Promac Protecting Mother and Child - Jamaica

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September 17, 2013



Promac Protecting Mother and Child

Help is coming for at risk new-born babies and high-risk pregnant women. It will come in the form of a Programme for the Reduction of Maternal Child Mortality, (PROMAC).

Promac Protecting Mother and Child

Health Minister the Honourable Dr. Fenton Ferguson joined the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Dr. Peter Phillips and a delegation from the European Union to sign documents for close to J$2.4 Billion in assistance at the Ministry of Finance.



PROMAC is a five-year programme aimed addressing the rate of deaths attributable to high-risk factors for mother and child. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Ferguson noted that despite improvements there was an urgent need to address the question of infant mortality occurring among children under 5 years old. He said 64% of all deaths for infants under 5 years old occurred in the first week of life.

“Achievement of the (Millennium Development Goal 4) MDG 4 therefore require expanding neonatal care services to improve the quality of care given to the premature infant” Dr. Ferguson said in outlining the goals of PROMAC.



The €22.1Million grant will see the establishment of high-dependency/high-contact centres or facilities with specialist equipment and personnel dedicated to caring for high-risk newborns and pregnant women. Dr. Ferguson says the PROMAC addresses gender issues as it targets women and children especially those in more vulnerable conditions.

Contact:

Neville Graham (317-8721) grahamn@moh.gov.jm

Stephanie Shaw Smith smiths@moh.gov.jm

Public Relations & Communication Unit

Tel: 967-1561