International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

A new drive has been launched in Kenya to reduce the nation's child mortality rate.

The 5 and Alive scheme has been announced by the country's government in a bid to create awareness and scale up efforts to enhance child survival.

Figures currently suggest that as many as 74 children in every 1,000 born in Kenya die before their fifth birthday, with almost 200,000 dying every year as a result, reports the Star.

Family Health department acting head in the Public Health ministry Tatu Kamau called for efforts to battle child mortality to be stepped up in Kenya.

"In order to reduce the child mortality, we all have a role to play. Our actions should be geared towards providing hope for all children," the official noted, adding the aim is to hit the Millennium Development Goal target of 33 per 1,000 live births.

Earlier in the month, Jamaica's minister with responsibility for Information Sandrea Falconer admitted the nation is to miss the child mortality target set as part of the 2015 Millennium Development Goal.

Posted by Paul Robertson