Pregnant women appeal to govt to implement the scrapping of maternity fees

PREGNANT women in the country's rural areas have appealed to the Government to implement the scrapping of maternity fees in district hospitals amid reports they were still being charged to deliver in such hospitals.
The Government recently scrapped maternity fees from public health institutions and central hospitals in a bid to reduce the country's high maternal mortality rate.
This was after Finance Minister Tendai Biti allocated $10 million to the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to subsidise maternal health costs.
The service includes monthly antenatal check-ups and delivery, excluding other ailments that are not related to pregnancy and pregnant women are required to produce a national identity card and proof of residence to register at the clinics, while those registering at hospitals are asked to produce the same documents accompanied by referral letters from clinics.
Expecting mothers were paying $50 at council clinics and $65 at public hospitals for babies delivered through caesarean operation.
However, speaking on condition of anonymity, a source from Inyathi District Hospital in Bubi district said they were still being charged maternity fees which most pregnant women were failing to raise.
"Most of us still cannot afford the maternity fees charged by the hospital and some would even fail to get money for transport after delivering and would end up walking home while carrying their babies," said a mother who had just delivered at the hospital.
A businessman from the area, Mr Geneva Sibanda, said he visited the hospital last week after receiving concerns from pregnant women.
"I visited Inyathi hospital as somebody who has the people of his constituency at heart to understand the concerns at hand. I met the District Medical Officer Dr Gwera who said the hospital was facing challenges like broken equipment and vehicles and shortage of food for patients, while the X-ray machine is now old," said Mr Sibanda.
"What is worrying is the issue of maternity fees. Many hospitals have stopped charging the fee but women going to district hospitals are still being charged.
The hospital authorities said they had not received the circular as yet.
"I will be taking this issue up because we cannot just sit and watch when our people are suffering. The Government should intervene and assist. I am also appealing to well-wishers to chip in and work with the hospital on the strained resources."
Contacted for comment, the Director in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare Dr Gibson Mhlanga said the policy of exemption from maternity fees was not new as it was Government policy and hospitals should not wait for the circular.
"This is not a new thing because it is a Government policy that pregnant mothers should be exempt from maternity fees in clinics and district hospitals. 
The problem was with provincial and central hospitals where they were being made to pay but we have said they should be exempt because we have given the hospitals a cash injection to scrap user fees," he said.
"The policy states that as long as somebody goes to a clinic and is referred to a district hospital she should be exempt from paying maternity fees. The hospitals should not expect a new circular as the policy has not been changed."
Recently, the Bulawayo City Council complained that scrapping of maternity user fees was prejudicing it of about $10 000 in potential revenue monthly.
Dr Mhlanga said health institutions had been given cash injection to cushion user fees.
"Just like what is done with minor children, pregnant mothers are exempted from maternity fees. Of late people were paying at central and provincial hospitals.
The problem was maybe because the system was at the beginning but now things have been corrected. Those who are finding it difficult should actually bring their documents to the ministry and will be reimbursed," he said.