KIGALI - The Ministry of Health intends to increase the number of women delivering from hospitals from the current 52 percent to 95 percent by 2012.

"There is need to achieve the EDPRS goals in 2012 for economic development and poverty reduction,” the Minister of Health, Jean Damascène Ntawukuliryayo said.

He was addressing journalists at a press conference yesterday where he presented a report of major achievements in the health sector in the last two-and-a-half years.

He said that the first part of the year, 87 Doctors and 1,032 nurses were recruited, while 93 doctors went for Masters’ degree.

The ministry also signed performance contracts with several bodies affiliated to the ministry and set standards in operating procedures for external and internal clients.   

Ntawukuriryayo said that for the past two years, health services had tremendously improved and infant mortality rate reduced.

Among other targets for 2012 is to increase the use of modern family planning methods from 27 percent  to 70 percent.

Meanwhile, from 1990 to 2008 child mortality rate reduced by 30 percent, while children below five years reduced by 33 percent in 18 years. The infant mortality rate also reduced from 86 per 1000 live births to 62, while under-five mortality rate reduced from 152 per 1000 to 103 per 1000.

Ntawukuriryayo also said that there is a small reduction in the prevalence of anaemia among children and women, from 56 percent to 48 percent and 33 percent to 27 percent respectively, due to people’s lack of proper hygiene and bad eating habits.

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