WHO recognizes Morocco's 'colossal' efforts in reducing child, maternal mortality

Rabat - The World Health Organization (WHO) considers Morocco one of the leading countries that have made a "colossal" effort in reducing child and maternal mortality, said Tuesday in Rabat, health minister, El Houssaine Louardi.

In response to a question from the group of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) at the House of Advisors on the ''recurring deaths of women during childbirth," Louardi said the various international organizations, namely the United Nations Population Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and the WHO emphasize that Morocco is on the right path towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals on reducing child and maternal mortality. He further indicated that infant mortality in Morocco fell from 84 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 30 deaths today, while maternal mortality fell during the year from 332 deaths per 100,000 live births to 112 deaths currently, i.e. a decrease of 67 pc.