adminPaidamoyo Chipunza in Mberengwa
An intervention by the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) to reduce the number of women who die while giving birth by capacitating a clinic in Negove area here to cater for more pregnant women has started bearing fruit.
The clinic, which has so far assisted at least 33 women to deliver since its official opening in August, has doubled the number of pregnant women it attends to on a monthly basis to 20.
The number of women who deliver from their homes and those who lose babies before getting medical assistance has also been mitigated.
Speaking at a function held to celebrate the birth of the first five babies at Negove Clinic last week, sister-in charge Onnet Dube said previously, the number of pregnant women requiring assistance mismatched the infrastructure that was available such that most women had to travel 40 kilometres further for assistance.
Sister Dube said this situation forced some women to deliver from their homes. She said for those who chose to deliver in a health facility, some of them delivered before they even got to the clinic because of the distance, thereby compromising their health and that of their unborn babies.
“On average, we would record three home deliveries and three babies born before arrival and this contributed to a high maternal mortality in this community. However, since the expansion of the clinic by the AFZ and establishment of a mother’s waiting shelter, we have not yet recorded any home delivery nor born-before-arrival baby.
“This intervention has impacted in a big way in reducing cases of maternal mortality,” said Sister Dube.
In an interview with The Herald on the sidelines of the event, the first woman who gave birth at the newly constructed clinic, Ms Sharai Hove acknowledged efforts by the AFZ in bringing health services closer to the people.
Ms Hove who has four other children, two of whom were born at home and others at Matibi Clinic, which is 40km said she was dreading going to Matibi Clinic when AFZ’s intervention came through.
“We want to thank AFZ for bringing maternal health services close to the community and my child bore witness to this gesture. Many people were giving birth at home with other losing their babies because of the distance that was there between this community and the other nearest health facility,” said Ms Hove.
Ms Hove together with the other four mothers received food hampers, an assortment of newborn clothes, maternity pads, diapers, some of which were donated by a local company, Bonga Travel and Financial Services.
Through its marketing director Ms Tryphine Mapindu, Bonga Travel, which also donated sanitary wear said their organisation was motivated by the need to assist the less-privileged in communities.
Josiah Tungamirai Air Force Base Air Commodore Marcelino Jakuvos Jaya said the AFZ will continue identifying and assisting disadvantaged communities as part of their charity work.
“On October 5, 2019, the Commander Air Force of Zimbabwe will host a charity horse race and air day in order to raise funds to support charity projects similar to the one that was undertaken here as well as disadvantaged people in different parts of Zimbabwe,” he said.
At Negove Clinic, the AFZ constructed a new state-of-the-art clinic with a casualty department, female and male wards, maternity wing and an administration block. With assistance from its partners, the AFZ has also facilitated construction of two modern houses for staff, one of which is expected to be used by a visiting doctor.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter