Last week, the Ministries of Defence and Health inaugurated five health posts in different parts of the country that are expected to play a significant role to significantly reduce maternal and child death rates.

As part of a nationwide project of establishing 500 new health posts at the grassroots, the posts were commissioned in Kicukiro, Kirehe, Burera, Rusizi, and Nyaruguru districts.The project was inaugurated in June last year.

Up to 44 health posts are expected to be constructed in the first phase, due to close later this month and officials say this will significantly boost the country’s goal of having at least one health post in every cell by 2017 – which requires at least 1,584 new health posts.

Speaking at the event to unveil the Kigarama sector health post in Kicukiro, Defence Minister James Kabarebe said that security alone cannot deliver good health and since the days of military battles are behind us, it’s now time to actively invest in welfare of citizens.

Health minister Dr Agnes Binagwaho said the new and planned health posts will play a central role in curbing maternal and child deaths, since pregnant women will easily access antenatal care.Binagwaho emphasized that the aim is to not only provide preventive but also curative and rehabilitative care.

In regional news, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) launched strategic partnerships to improve the regulatory environment for Aflatoxin control across the 20-nation bloc. Martha Byanyima, the COMESA Sanitary and Phytosanitary Coordinator, revealed this while addressing over 40 delegates at a two-day Aflatoxin Sampling and Testing Workshop in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Aflatoxin is a naturally produced poisonous strain of the fungus species that is invisible to the naked eye and whose consumption, even of very minute quantities, is sufficient to cause illness or death.

Although aflatoxin contamination poses a global problem, its impact is higher in tropical climatic regions, between 40° North and 40° South of the equator, which makes the entire African continent susceptible.

Aflatoxin contamination commonly occurs in maize, groundnuts, sorghum and millet in Eastern and Southern Africa. The contamination can occur to the said crops at the pre- and post-harvest stages. According to World Bank studies, 25 per cent of world’s food crops are affected by aflatoxin contamination.

The main objectives of the two-day forum last week were to review the proposed sampling protocols and build consensus on the national regional maximum tolerance limits for Aflatoxin in maize and groundnuts.

Meanwhile during the launch of the Global Week Action organized by the World Vision Rwanda in Gakenke District, officials called for collective efforts to curb deaths of children under five. Hundreds of residents from Gakenke, as well as government and regional World Vision officials attended the event.

George Gitau, the World Vision’s National Director, said Rwanda was committed toward improving maternal health. He said that while the government and partners have joined efforts to minimize the deaths of children under five, there are still millions of such innocent people dying annually worldwide which calls for more efforts to reverse the trend.