. Kabanshi

THE news about the Swedish government having given the Ministry of Health a grant of US$3.1 million to supplement the Zambian Government’s efforts in maternal health programmes is a welcome gesture.
The grant is specifically targeting four districts in the eastern region of the country, and is in addition to K4.4 million from the European Union meant for infrastructure development to three training institutions, namely, Mwami School of Nursing, Chipata and St Francis Schools of Nursing and Midwifery, whose works are currently ongoing.
The Swedish grant comes at the right time when the country is expecting to meet the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) which, according to the United Nations target, are due next year.
This means that the grant has come at a time when Zambia is left with only one month before the year ends, with high hopes of meeting the MDGs.
The MDGs are United Nation (UN)’s eight international development goals that were set following the Millennium Summit held in the year 2000, and these came after the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration.
All the 189 UN member states at the time (there are currently 193) and at least 23 international organisations committed to help achieve the following MDGs by 2015:
These are to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, to achieve universal primary education, to promote gender equality, and to reduce child mortality.
Other goals to be met by next year are to improve maternal health, to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, to ensure environmental sustainability and, finally, to develop a global partnership for socio-economic development.
The more than $3 million Swedish grant project under the aegis of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), which began in August this year, would be implemented in the four Eastern Province districts of Petauke, Sinda, Mambwe and Vubwi.
Provincial medical officer, Dr Abel Kabalo revealed this in Chipata through Dr Jairos Mulambya. The programme, which has been fully funded by the Swedish government, is expected to last for only one year.
The project is specifically meant to supplement the Zambian Government’s efforts in human resource development, medical supplies, water and sanitation as well as power supply to health institutions in these four districts.
Looking at the little time that is remaining before the nation meets its target, it is expected that the Swedish grant will be put to good use in order to achieve the objectives set out in ensuring that the nation meets the MDGs next year.