CRC/C/15/Add.269 page 12 the recommendations adopted by the Committee on its day of general discussion on the rights of children with disabilities (see CRC/C/69), the Committee recommends that the State party take all necessary measures: (a) To prevent and prohibit all forms of discrimination against children with disabilities and ensure that they have equal opportunities for full participation in all spheres of life by implementing the relevant domestic laws and including disability-related aspects in all relevant policy-making and national planning; (b) To collect adequate statistical data on children with disabilities and use disaggregated data in developing policies and programmes to promote equal opportunities for them in society, paying particular attention to children with disabilities living in the most remote areas of the country; (c) To provide children with disabilities with access to adequate social and health services, quality education, the physical environment, information and communication; (d) To raise awareness about children with disabilities, including their rights, special needs and potential, in order to change negative attitudes, mistaken beliefs and prejudices against children with disabilities by initiating and supporting public information campaigns; and (e) To ensure that professionals working with and for children with disabilities, such as medical, paramedical and related personnel, teachers and social workers, are adequately trained. 55. Furthermore, the Committee encourages the State party to pay particular attention to the rights and status of children with disabilities in the context of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities 1999-2009. Health and health services 56. The Committee commends the State party for providing free medical care for all citizens. While welcoming the adoption, in April 2005, of the Programme national de périnatalité 2005-2008 with the aim of reducing newborn and maternal mortality rates by 50 per cent, the Committee expresses its grave concern at the high rates of infant and maternal mortality. In addition, the Committee expresses its concern about the decreasing use of exclusive breastfeeding and the low number of baby-friendly hospitals promoting breastfeeding, persisting malnutrition among children, particularly in the rural areas, and the disparities, which are often extreme, between rural and urban areas regarding access to health services. 57. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Ensure that appropriate resources are allocated for the health sector, and develop and implement comprehensive policies and programmes for improving the health situation of children so as to implement the Convention fully, in particular articles 4, 6 and 24;