News / Health
3 000 women and girls die in childbirth each year
30 Oct 2013 at 15:39hrs | Views
OVER 3 000 women and girls die each year due to pregnancy-related complications in Zimbabwe translating to 11 women dying every day of the year, Minister of Health and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa has said.
Minister Parirenyatwa made these remarks in his speech on the occasion of the 68th Anniversary of the United Nations Day at Chitungwiza Central Hospital yesterday.
The celebrations ran under the theme 'For Safer Motherhood in Zimbabwe'.
He said Government was partnering different organisations, private companies and individuals to raise awareness to reduce maternal mortality in the country.
'A sobering fact is that in Zimbabwe the maternal mortality rate alarmingly stands at 960 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births - three times higher than the global average and almost double that of the Sub Saharan averages'.
He said Government was committed to resolving the challenge through various policies, strategies and programmes aimed at promoting safer motherhood and reduce the maternal mortality rate.
'Effective health services for all is primarily responsibility of Government, we take issues of maternal mortality very seriously. Healthcare programmes to improve maternal health must be supported by strong policies, adequate training of healthcare providers, and logistical services that facilitate the provision of those programmes', said Minister Parirenyatwa.
Shortages in personnel, equipment and supplies continue to plague Zimbabwe's healthcare infrastructure, putting the lives of pregnant women at risk.
He added that many women, particularly in rural areas, cannot afford the transport costs required to make frequent travels to health centers during and after pregnancy.
Most women cannot raise the fees required to consult health personnel and hence go through a pregnancy ignorant of potential life-threatening complications.
Instead, Minister Parirenyatwa said, they opt to deliver at home which significantly increases chances that a pregnant woman will die, especially when the delivery requires surgical intervention, or is carried out by non-skilled persons. Other causal factors for high maternal mortality include gender inequality and lack of women's rights and poor sexuality education.
United Nations Resident Co-ordinator Mr Alain Noudehou said 'Celebrating 2013 UN Day under the theme 'For safer Motherhood in Zimbabwe' was part of the commitment by the UN to work with the Ministry of Health and Child Care development partners, community members and other stakeholders to raise awareness and advocate for more attention to be paid to the excessive martenal mortality rate in Zimbabwe'.
According to the Zimbabwe Maternal and Perinatal Mortality Survey (ZMPMS) conducted in 2007, 725 women die per every 100 000 live births, a figure which is far higher than the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) target of 75 per 100 000 live births.
Minister Parirenyatwa made these remarks in his speech on the occasion of the 68th Anniversary of the United Nations Day at Chitungwiza Central Hospital yesterday.
The celebrations ran under the theme 'For Safer Motherhood in Zimbabwe'.
He said Government was partnering different organisations, private companies and individuals to raise awareness to reduce maternal mortality in the country.
'A sobering fact is that in Zimbabwe the maternal mortality rate alarmingly stands at 960 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births - three times higher than the global average and almost double that of the Sub Saharan averages'.
He said Government was committed to resolving the challenge through various policies, strategies and programmes aimed at promoting safer motherhood and reduce the maternal mortality rate.
'Effective health services for all is primarily responsibility of Government, we take issues of maternal mortality very seriously. Healthcare programmes to improve maternal health must be supported by strong policies, adequate training of healthcare providers, and logistical services that facilitate the provision of those programmes', said Minister Parirenyatwa.
Shortages in personnel, equipment and supplies continue to plague Zimbabwe's healthcare infrastructure, putting the lives of pregnant women at risk.
He added that many women, particularly in rural areas, cannot afford the transport costs required to make frequent travels to health centers during and after pregnancy.
Most women cannot raise the fees required to consult health personnel and hence go through a pregnancy ignorant of potential life-threatening complications.
Instead, Minister Parirenyatwa said, they opt to deliver at home which significantly increases chances that a pregnant woman will die, especially when the delivery requires surgical intervention, or is carried out by non-skilled persons. Other causal factors for high maternal mortality include gender inequality and lack of women's rights and poor sexuality education.
United Nations Resident Co-ordinator Mr Alain Noudehou said 'Celebrating 2013 UN Day under the theme 'For safer Motherhood in Zimbabwe' was part of the commitment by the UN to work with the Ministry of Health and Child Care development partners, community members and other stakeholders to raise awareness and advocate for more attention to be paid to the excessive martenal mortality rate in Zimbabwe'.
According to the Zimbabwe Maternal and Perinatal Mortality Survey (ZMPMS) conducted in 2007, 725 women die per every 100 000 live births, a figure which is far higher than the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) target of 75 per 100 000 live births.
Source - Herald
