Maternal and child health
We're working with partners to promote and provide equitable access to health care for mothers and children in The Gambia.
The challenge
Like most developing countries, preventable and treatable diseases like malaria, respiratory infections, diarrhoeal disease, malnutrition, and neonatal sepsis are largely responsible for childhood mortality and morbidity in The Gambia.
The under-five mortality rate and neonatal mortality rate remain high at 56 and 29 deaths, respectively, per 1,000 live births. The maternal mortality ratio dropped to 289 deaths per 100,000 live births.
These statistics are compounded by a weak health sector, due to insufficient financial and logistical support, a deteriorating physical infrastructure, lack of supplies and equipment, shortages of adequately and appropriately trained health personnel, high attrition rates, and an inadequate referral system.
Despite the challenges, The Gambia continues to make gains in primary health care coverage, especially in immunization coverage, to ensure protection from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The solution
Revitalizing and further strengthening primary health care, which includes both preventive and curative services, strong referral system provides an opportunity for the underserved to have quick access to health care and save lives. This includes health promotion and prevention, support to immunization (both campaigns and routine, basic drug provision and case referral by village health workers).
Community led, simple and quick responses to the main childhood diseases have proven to be an efficient and cost-effective tool in addressing the major causes of mortality and morbidity. Strong referral practices at community level to health facilities ensure that more complicated cases get more appropriate timely treatment. To achieve this goal and in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, UNICEF supports government, Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and other health partners through several approaches and activities:
- We provide technical support at the policy level to enhance institutional capacities, coordination, and health financing for maternal and child health services.
- We advocate for innovation and evidence-generation to inform program and policy design.
- We mobilize financial resources to support integrated service delivery in primary healthcare settings, including immunization and management of childhood illnesses.
- We promote advocacy and awareness-raising to improve essential care practices for child survival at the community level.
- We foster partnerships with stakeholders, including UN agencies, civil society organizations, and private sectors.
- UNICEF conducts Health Services Assessments to guide future planning and improve response to population needs, informing critical initiatives such as Public Health Expenditure Analysis and the National Health Insurance Scheme.