Seychelles is currently working towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. To achieve the targets for the reduction of child mortality, which forms MDG 4, Seychelles should reduce under-five deaths per 1,000 live births to six, and increase measles immunisation to 100 per cent by 2015. In 2012 under-five mortality stood at 13 deaths per 1,000 live births, and measles immunisation at 98 per cent. While the measles immunisation target is close to being achieved, significant progress must be made with regard to under-five mortality if Seychelles is to meet MDG 4 by 2015. The 2013 MDG progress report for Seychelles highlighted the need for more inclusive medical and health service provision for mothers and children, including widespread improvements in antenatal, delivery and postnatal services, with the aim of conforming health care to international standards if this goal is to be achieved.
The global MDG 5 target for maternal health is to reduce the number of women who die in pregnancy and childbirth by threequarters between 1990 and 2015. In 2008, maternal mortality in Seychelles was 57 deaths per 100,000 live births (an estimate from UN agencies/World Bank). There is insufficient data available to assess Seychelles’ progress towards this goal. The 2012 MDG progress report for Seychelles highlights the issue of low contraceptive use in the country, which has led to a high adolescent birth rate, causing ongoing concern. There have been numerous programmes throughout the country aimed at reducing teenage motherhood, nevertheless, significant work needs to be done in this area to change behaviours. Other health concerns that need to be prioritised are drug use within the 15-25 years age group (in order to target the number of heroin-dependent mothers), improving health education for adolescents and combating child sexual abuse.
MDG 6 aims for a reduction in the prevalence of HIV, malaria and other diseases. Progress needs to be made in reducing deaths from TB and stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS if the country is to achieve MDG 6 by 2015. The 2013 MDG progress report for Seychelles highlights the need for widespread surveying of key populations, including sex workers and prison inmates, in a bid to develop prevention and intervention programming, as well as methods of sustaining national HIV and AIDS programmes.
