Constraints on the achievement of the targets for 2015

• The insufficient availability of human resources, in terms of quantity as well as quality, and their capacity to rotate.
• Poor management capacity of the Neonatal and Infant Health Programme.
• Deficiencies in the availability and restocking of goods for neonatal and infant health.
• Deficient referral system for the timely referral of children with a serious illness.
• Deficient information, monitoring and evaluation system, as well as deficient inter and intra-sector coordination.
• AIDS and malaria continue a threat for the achievement of the MDG 4. In spite of the enormous progress in paediatric anti-retroviral treatment, the expansion of the quality services continues a huge challenge for the sector.
•  Unequal progress in the children’s well-being.

Recommendations for the achievement of the targets for 2015

• Fair allocation of qualified human resources for neonatal and infant health at all levels.
• Increase of the efforts for the expansion of malaria prevention ( intra-domiciliary spraying, distribution of mosquito nets, rapid use anti-malaria drugs for babies).
• Preventive activities and reduction of mortality due to serious acute malnutrition and chronic malnutrition.
• Improvement of the nutritional status of pregnant women and children.
• Strengthen the logistical system of the health sector for medicines and equipment.
• Revitalization of the Elementary General Agent Programme and other initiatives at community level to strengthen the involvement of the community in neonatal and infant health activities.
• Better advocacy to guarantee the integration of the rights of the child in the policies and legislation.
• Raising the awareness of the communities/families regarding good child care practices.

Positive factors of progress in the indicators

• The Government and its development partners have strongly committed to support child health (Presidential Initiative for Maternal, Neonatal and Infant Health and the Partnership in 2008 and the National Partnership for the Promotion of Maternal, Neonatal and Infant Health in 2010).
• There is a trend to mobilize global initiatives.

Source: Report on the Millennium Development Goals - Mozambique 2010