Thank you Lucy for raising the concern on Goal 5 that touches on maternal health. I agree that we need to capitalize on social media to disseminate information on this important matter. I am sure you will get a response from Mr. Mugo. We now move to the last day of our discussion. Our focus shifts to the third pillar namely the political pillar (rule of law, electoral and political processes, transparency and accountability etc). http://www.vision2030.go.ke/index.php/pillars/index/political The objective of the pillar is stated as...'moving to the future as one nation and envisions a democratic system that is issue based, people centred, results oriented and is accountable to the public'. Listers, please continue to raise your concerns in any of the areas discussed so far. Have a great day. Rgds Grace ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is all about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth and rule the World! Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:59:14 -0800 From: lkimani@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [kictanet] Vision 2030: ICT and Other Sectors Converged (Day 3) To: ggithaiga@hotmail.com CC: kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke Bw. Mugo, Thanks for taking the time to address the issues raised so far. I would like add my pesa nane on the Vision 2030 Social Pillar which closely ties in with the Millenium Development Goals. From the MTP Report attached for listers, I was shocked to read that the Goal 5 "Improve Maternal Health" is one that is unachievable and actually increased from 414 in 2003 to 488 in 2009? Yet this is one that should be easier to address through education via social media through vehicles such as the digital villages to disseminate information on the importance of maternal health. Programs enlisting churches as partners in spreading the word and most importantly a concerted effort by the GOK in funding clinics that focus on providing healthy supplemental foods and nutrition counseling for pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children especially in rural areas. Numerous studies have shown that pregnant women who participate in similar programs have longer pregnancies leading to fewer premature births; have fewer low birth weight babies; experience fewer fetal and infant deaths since they seek prenatal care earlier in pregnancy and consume more of such key nutrients as iron, protein, calcium and Vitamin C. I found the report to be defeatist in the assessment of this particular goal and would hope for a re-evaluation and better planning in attaining the goal in a Vision 2030 kind of way:-) Lucy