The United Nations will collaborate with the SA government to improve maternal and child health in the Ukhahlamba district in the Eastern Cape, the Department of Health said on Friday.

Spokesperson Sibani Mngadi said Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang met with representatives of invited United Nations agencies based in SA on Thursday in Pretoria.

Discussions were held about "further strengthening maternal, neonatal, child, youth and women's health services and nutrition," said Mngadi.

The UN agencies invited to the meeting includes the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Population Fund and the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.

Mngadi said the department was finalising a five year strategic plan on maternal and child health for the period 2008-2013.

He said at least 18 districts across the country have been identified as focus points because of high levels of deprivation and low maternal and child health outcomes.

Developing and implementing workplans

Ukhahlamba was included because of the "increased number of child deaths [that] were reported earlier this year compared to the same period in 2007.

"The Department will work with UN agencies to develop and implement workplans to improve maternal and child health in these districts."

He said the UN agencies would support the department by helping to mobilise resources and provide technical support.

Earlier this month, the Democratic Alliance said the government needed to release a full report on the deaths of 142 babies in the Ukhahlamba district earlier this year.

"The full report has still not been released and the summary gives little substantial information," said Waters.

Provincial health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said at the time that a number of interviews with the media regarding the recent deaths had been given and that allegations that the department was hiding anything from the public were not true.

The babies that died earlier this year had apparently suffered from severe malnutrition, kwashiorkor, pneumonia, poor sanitation and marasmus.

Difficulties in obtaining clean water and sanitation in the district have been alleged as one of the root health problems in the area.

Sapa