Online Reporter
Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]
GOVERNMENT is intensifying the retraining of midwives while investing in new medical equipment and ambulances for hospitals amid concerns that Zimbabwe has recorded 54 maternal and 299 neonatal deaths since the beginning of the year.
Hypertensive disorders have been identified as the leading cause of maternal deaths while respiratory complications remain the primary reason for neonatal fatalities.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare recorded the highest number of maternal deaths at 19, followed by Midlands with nine cases, Mashonaland West with seven, and Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Mashonaland Central recording four cases each. Masvingo reported three maternal deaths, while Mashonaland East and Manicaland had two each. Notably, Matabeleland South did not record a maternal death.
In terms of neonatal deaths, Harare recorded 111 cases followed by Bulawayo with 50, Mashonaland West had 33, Midlands recorded 22, Manicaland had 15, Mashonaland East had 14, Mashonaland Central recorded 11 and Matabeleland North had nine cases.
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Sleiman Timios Kwidini, revealed these figures while addressing the National Assembly last Wednesday.
“The leading cause of death was hypertensive disorders and its complications including renal failure. The other was post-partum haemorrhage post having an abortion, post normal delivery and also post-Caesarian section,” he said.
“Sexes was also a contributory factor. Some had underlying HIV and diabetic mellitus conditions. Other causes are dilated cardiomyopathy.”
For neonatal deaths, Deputy Minister Kwidini said the leading cause was respiratory distress due to birth complications.
He said other contributing factors included cultural barriers that delayed timely medical intervention.
“On neonatal deaths of 299, the leading cause was respiratory distress as a complication. Secondary was birth asplenium due to challenges with inter-cultural issues,” said Deputy Minister Kwidini.
Government is rolling out comprehensive interventions to address the crisis, particularly focusing on capacity building for midwives, most of whom have migrated to other countries.
Special attention is being given to rural areas where maternal and neonatal health services are often limited.
Deputy Minister Kwidini said Government is also deploying more ambulances to district hospitals to improve emergency response times in cases of pregnancy-related complications. In addition, health awareness campaigns are being conducted to encourage pregnant women to seek regular medical check-ups.
Deputy Minister Kwidini revealed that the Government is restructuring certain health department roles to offer better incentives for midwives.
“We are also upgrading what we call primary care nurses in rural areas to be midwives so that they can also render midwife services.
“We have gone far further to deploy what we call mobile small scanning machines so that our pregnant women can undergo scanning which is recommended at the initial stage where the pregnant woman is going to book for antenatal care so that we reduce those complications, especially on maternal and neonatal deaths,” he said.
“Midwifery is a specialised field requiring additional training. We are currently restructuring pay grades to ensure that midwives receive better remuneration. In the next two to three months, we expect to complete this process.
Deputy Minister Kwidini said the ministry is also introducing a locum system, meaning midwives who work beyond normal hours will be compensated for the extra duty, encouraging them to stay in the profession, particularly in rural areas.
To further improve maternal and neonatal care, the Government is investing in modern hospital equipment.
“We are replacing outdated medical devices with modern technology to improve efficiency and reduce infections. Previously, some hospital equipment was operated manually, increasing the risk of infection due to the use of non-sterile gloves or outdated surgical tools,” said Deputy Minister Kwidini.
“We are working to eliminate these risks by ensuring healthcare facilities meet modern standards.”
These initiatives are expected to enhance maternal and neonatal healthcare delivery, ultimately reducing mortality rates and improving overall health outcomes for mothers and newborn babies across the country. —@nqotshili
