Zimbabwe Experiencing High Child Birth Mortality As Women Fail To Access Health Care Services

Maternal deaths cause for concern
THE country recorded 19 maternal deaths, six of them in Matabeleland provinces, in the first two weeks of 2016 amid fears by gender activists that more deaths were going unreported.
A Ministry of Health and Child Care weekly report said nine women died in the first week of the year while 10 died during the second week.

Four deaths were recorded at United Bulawayo Hospitals, One each at Mpilo Central Hospital and Hwange District Hospital in Matabeleland North.

Matabeleland South proportional representation MP, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, said more women could by dying while giving birth, but the deaths were not being recorded.

“Those statistics don’t represent the kind of problem we’re facing. They are statistics of those coming to clinics and hospitals who die while they are receiving maternal health care. What about those who die at their homes?” she said.

Misihairabwi-Mushonga said expectant mothers will continue to die at home as long as health institutions demand payment for services.

“We can’t allow women and babies to die because of failure to access health services,” said Misihairabwi-Mushonga.
Enkundleni/Padare Men’s Forum programme officer Ziphongezipho Ndebele said maternal mortality was alarming and sends wrong messages to communities.

“It’s very shocking and it has some psychological effects on women and families. The statistics are too high and as such some women end up being scared of getting pregnant,” said Ndebele.

He concurred with Misihairabwi-Mushonga’s assertion that the government must provide free health care to expectant mothers.

Vaidah Mashangwa, the provincial officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development said the country needs to take a holistic approach before coming up with their conclusions.

She said maternal mortality can be linked to women failing to access health care.
Mashangwa said if women fail to access proper health care during the initial stages of pregnancy there was a likelihood of them facing complications when giving birth.

According to the World Health Organisation there are 614 deaths per every 100,000 births in Zimbabwe against a global target of 74 deaths per 100,000.By Nqobile Tshili, source  Chronicle

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