Working together to reduce child mortality rate

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JOHOR BARU: Voluntary engagement by various charitable organisations and citizens will boost Johor’s efforts to reduce the child mortality rate.

Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the state government was playing its part to counter the problem by providing a safe, healthy and hygienic environment but help was still needed.

“About nine million children below the age of five die annually around the world. The state government’s efforts in continuing to enhance basic infrastructure to combat such occurrences must be supplemented by contributions in knowledge and skills by various parties,” he said in his speech before launching the Rotary International District 3310 conference on child mortality yesterday.

He said voluntary involvement would be focused as it targeted a specific group in the community while the state government’s approach would be broader.

“There is only so much that the state government and our agencies can do. The participation of charitable organisations and concerned citizens will add the much-needed emphasis to address specific issues in countering child mortality.

“We call upon all organisations and associations to play their part,” he said.