International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Child survival rates in Gambia have increased thanks to improvements in healthcare provision, an official has stated.

According to Her Excellency Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, vice president and women's affairs minister, primary healthcare posts are now located within five kilometers of 85 per cent of people in the country, the Daily Observer reports.

This has helped the nation achieve considerable reductions in its under-five and infant mortality rates.

Dr Njie-Saidy is keen to tackle wider issues relating to maternal and newborn health, including the level of access to safe, affordable and effective contraception.

She argued that both men and women are also entitled to be given the latest information on family planning so they can access "appropriate" healthcare services.

This, she stated, would enable women to "go through safe pregnancy and deliver ultimately healthy infants".

Dr Njie-Saidy added that people must have the "capability to reproduce and freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so".

Posted by Paul Robertson