Improving maternal and infant mortality rates in Fiji has been one of the proprieties of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

Health Minister Jone Usamate says while maternal mortality rates in Fiji are decreasing the Ministry has not reached their target of a 75 percent reduction.

The Minister made these comments at the launch of an Infection Prevention and Control manual yesterday which the Ministry hopes will bring about effective change.

“We have concerns in Fiji with the fact that a lot of women present themselves very late and are not able to identify danger signs and fail to seek immediate care especially from expecting mothers and their family members and that’s something our staff are constantly dealing with.”

Usamate also highlighted the delays in receiving high quality care and lack of access to transport to take people to receive medical care are some of the major worries that face the Ministry.