Call to employ more midwives

Oswell Moyo Chronicle Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Nurses Association say the government must address the shortage of midwives as it is contributing to the country’s high rate of maternal deaths.

The association’s president, Regina Smith, told Chronicle yesterday they’re appealing to the government to employ more midwives to ensure that expectant mothers receive quality service to reverse a trend where in every 100,000 live births about 614 mothers die.

“Our country is currently experiencing a shortage of midwives. In hospitals you notice that two midwives will be attending to 15 patients making it difficult for them to constantly check and supervise expecting mothers. We would like a situation whereby a midwife attends to at least two patients,” said Smith.

She said the government has not yet recruited over 2,000 qualified nurses despite lifting the freeze on recruitment of health workers.

“More than 2,000 nurses are still roaming the streets despite the call by government that they will be recruited. This year we’re looking forward to seeing the majority of nurses being absorbed into the market,” Smith said.

The nurses’ association president said the hiring of midwives would go a long way in reducing maternal deaths.

A mother who recently delivered a baby boy at Mpilo Central Hospital said they were not constantly checked upon at the maternity ward and some of the few midwives available were very hostile to young mothers needing attention.

“Most of midwives at Mpilo are rude and sometimes very rough. This may be caused due to the fact that they deal with a high number of patients,” said Sikhanyisiwe Dube.