Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
On May 5, early this month, when Zimbabwe marked International Day of the Midwife, a trailblazing woman in midwifery education, Ms Hegar Mapondera, was honoured for her contribution to the sector.
Now 95, Ms Mapondera is the country’s first black midwife tutor, and she was honoured with a shield at the recently held commemorations of the International Day of the Midwife in Chinhoyi.
The event was organised by the Health and Child Care Ministry in partnership with UNFPA, the Swedish Embassy and the Zimbabwe College of Midwives.
Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Sleiman Kwidini handed over the shield to the retired health expert.
At 95, this remarkable woman looks back with pride on her extensive career and the lasting impact she has made on maternal health and midwifery training in Zimbabwe.
Born on August 2, 1930, in Zambia, Hegar Mapondera pursued her early education in nursing in England from 1957 to 1961.
This foundational training set the stage for her to enrol in midwifery courses in 1962, where she honed her skills as a healthcare professional.
In 1963, she moved to Zimbabwe, then known as Rhodesia, seeking to contribute to the burgeoning healthcare needs of the nation.
That same year, she joined the Ministry of Health, where she began her career based in maternity sections, focusing on the care of expectant mothers and their infants.
From 1964 to 1965, Mapondera held the position of sister in-charge of Community Midwifery, further expanding her expertise and influence in the field.
“I joined the maternity department of Harare Hospital in 1963 as a junior midwife. By this time, there were deliveries of at least 30 babies per night.
“During the same time, we had a programme where students would go and deliver mothers in the community, and time wasn’t of the essence. By just a phone call, we would rush and help the mother deliver safely,” she recalled.
She recalled the then-delivery truck they used back in the day. Though the model of the truck has slipped her mind, she still remembers vividly the availability of oxygen tanks, delivery packs and injections to stop bleeding.
The truck also had equipment to resuscitate newborn babies.
“One of the challenges was we had mothers who came to deliver when they had not been attending antenatal care. Most of the problems that we had would have been preventable if they had attended antenatal care.
“As a midwife, you have to learn to be patient because not all mothers are going to deliver within 24 hours. You need to have a love for your work and patience.
“I enjoyed midwifery because I enjoyed seeing these women delivering and having the babies, and the midwife is the first person to see the baby before the mother and to congratulate the mother. Unfortunately, in a few circumstances, we would have a stillbirth. But you have to show empathy to the mother who is going through that traumatic situation. So as a midwife, you have to be a counsellor.”
She eventually returned to England in 1966 to obtain a Midwifery Tutor’s Diploma, further solidifying her as a leader in midwifery education.
In 1967, she joined the faculty at Harare Midwifery School, a critical institution for midwifery training.
“I was based in the clinical area, which I enjoyed very much,” she added.
By 1972, Mapondera was a pivotal figure at Harare Midwifery School, being the sole tutor at the time.
Her expertise became even more pronounced when she participated in a groundbreaking study on the “Partograph”, led by Professor Phillipott in 1972.
This study focused on the management of obstructed labour, leading to interventions that have now been widely implemented globally.
The modified approach advocated by the World Health Organisation aimed to prevent complications such as ruptured uteri and Vesico Vaginal Fistula, ultimately saving countless women from the risks associated with obstructed labour.
Throughout her tenure at Harare Midwifery School, which lasted until 1993, Mapondera was instrumental in promoting a multiracial training environment, welcoming students from diverse backgrounds during a time of significant social and political change in Zimbabwe.
Her professionalism, depth of knowledge, and skill in both clinical practice and classroom instruction earned her respect far and wide.
Colleagues affectionately referred to her as the “Maggie Miles of Zimbabwe”, reflecting her dedication and influence in the field.
In 1993, Mapondera joined the World Health Organisation, further broadening her impact on maternal health initiatives on an international scale.
She played a crucial mentoring role for tutors at Parirenyatwa Hospital when the new Midwifery School opened its doors in 2009, serving in this capacity until 2011.
As one of the founding members of the Zimbabwe College of Midwives (ZICOM), she became the first president of the organisation in 1995, continuing to support the advancement of midwifery in Zimbabwe.
In recognising Ms Mapondera, Zimbabwe did not just celebrate her remarkable journey and achievements, but also the lives she has touched and the generations of midwives she has trained, ensuring safer birthing practices and a brighter future for mothers and children in Zimbabwe.
Her legacy is one of unwavering dedication to healthcare, education, and the empowerment of women within the field of midwifery.
