Measles, Diarrhoea Deaths Decrease

THE Mortality rates of people dying from measles and diarrhoea disease in Zambia has fallen.
According to a report published in the Lancet on December 18, 2014, mortality rate from measles dropped 89 per cent between 1990 and 2013.
At the same time, a number of diseases including ischemic heart disease and stroke, claimed more lives in Zambia in 2013 than in 1990.
The leading cause of death in Zambia are HIV/AIDS, malaria, and pneumonia, accounting for 41 per cent of all deaths.
The report further states that HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis were the top two causes of death for people between the ages of 15 and 45 years, resulting in 28, 078 lives lost in 2013.
However, ischemic heart disease and stroke took more lives in 2013 than in 1990, with deaths increasing more than 200 per cent and 167 per cent respectively.
The report also states that Zambia witnessed marked declines in mortality from a number of diseases.
The report also reveals that in Zambia, neonatal sepsis took a greater toll on males, killing 1,588 males and females.
By contrast, HIV/AIDS claimed 18,086 women’s lives and 15,695 men’s lives.
“We have achieved greater progress in reducing mortality from a number of diseases, reflecting our country’s investments in improving health for citizens,’’ a researcher at the University of Zambia, Felix Masiye says.
Out of the 188 countries where a similar study was conducted, Zambia is ranked 184th for women and 168th for men.
The Global Burden Disease (GBD) study 2013 is part of an ongoing effort to produce the most timely and up-to-date of what kills people worldwide.

Posted by Editor on January 22, 2015. Filed under HEALTH. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.