THE United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) has sourced 63 ambulances worth $2,5 million to be distributed to all the country’s districts while about 105 maternity homes will undergo refurbishment in a move meant to reduce deaths associated with childbirth, a senior official with the UN agency has revealed.
By Everson Mushava
Speaking at a media workshop in Bulawayo on Tuesday, a specialist in sexual reproductive health with UNPF Tamisayi Chinhengo said the move was aimed at reducing birth-related complications and deaths.
“We have partnered the Ministry of Health and Child Care. UNPF is supporting revitalisation of maternity waiting homes and related services. We are supporting the strengthening of referral systems targeting 63 districts hospitals,” Chinhengo said.
“This includes refurbishing maternity waiting homes, 105 maternity waiting homes countrywide and training of 800 health workers providing emergency child birth care.”
She said the programme had received a $13 million cash injection from the European Union.
The fund will also see the training of over 800 health personnel working in maternity waiting homes.
She said the money will also be used to procure foodstuffs for pregnant women at maternity waiting homes.
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Globally, about seven million women die every year due to pregnancy-related problems and of the seven million; two million are believed to be aged below 14.
This means that a woman dies every minute from childbirth complication and abortion.
In Zimbabwe, 10 women die every day due to childbearing-related complications while a quarter of the deaths are people below 24 years of age.
Zimbabwe’s maternal mortality, at 960 deaths for every 100 000 live births, is double the average of 500 deaths per 100 000 live birth experienced in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The high mortality rate is attributed to transport problems, obstetric and neonatal care services, economic problems, shortage of drugs and inadequate training of personnel at maternity homes, to mention just but a few.
