F. Basic health and welfare
34. The Committee appreciates the measures the State Party has taken to reduce
maternal and child mortality as well as to improve health care facilities. It is
commendable that infant mortality rate has dropped significantly between 2009 and
2014. Despite these efforts, the Committee notes that under five mortality remains
high; access to health care services is limited; and immunization is not fully realized
to prevent deadly diseases. Acute malnutrition, lack of sanitation, lack of clean
drinking water particularly in rural areas, and unattended birth account for the high
under five mortality rate. The Committee urges the State Party among others to:
a. Improve the infrastructure and accessibility of health care services and build
more hospitals, clinics and health centers in remote areas;
b. Vastly reach all communities with immunization programs and provide sufficient
vaccination to all children to prevent diseases;
c. Promote sanitation and provide sanitary facilities to poor communities;
d. Launch programs and strategies to increase access to clean drinking water in
rural areas;
e. Prevent malnutrition and provide nutritious foods with extra minerals for children
affected by malnutrition; and
f. Increase the budgetary allocation for the health sector to increase the
accessibility and quality of the health care offered by the Government.
35. With regard to children with disabilities, the Committee regrets that most health care
centers do not have facilities to cater for the special needs of children with
disabilities. The Committee recommends that the State Party improves the
infrastructure of all health centers to make them accessible by children with
disabilities. In addition, the Committee recommends for the State Party to fortify its
efforts in early identification and treatment to prevent disabilities.
36. The Committee also recommends that the State Party expedites the adoption of the
Disability Equity Bill which still appears as a draft.
G. Education, leisure and cultural activities
37. The Committee appreciates that the State Party provides free and compulsory
education for children in accordance with the Constitution and the CPW Act.
However, the Committee notes that the Free Primary Education Act (FPE) makes
education free and compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 13. The FPE
may result in the exclusion of children who may start primary education lately as the
age limit will exclude such children from a free and compulsory primary education
once they attain the age of 13 years of age. Therefore, the Committee recommends
that the State Party harmonizes its laws and provides free and compulsory
education to all children below the ages of 18 in all its laws and policies in
8