Japan commits US$ 1.3 million for pregnant women in Zimbabwe…support comes in the context of COVID-19 which has stretched health resources

Roselyne Sachiti Features, Health and Society Editor

Covid -19 has not only impacted negatively on the economies of both developed and developing countries, but it has also torn apart communities and affected health delivery systems.

In most African countries, Zimbabwe included, Covid-19 put a strain on maternal health services in both rural and urban areas.

Pregnant women were affected as some could not easily access health facilities owing Covid-19 lockdowns meant to prevent the spread of the novel disease.

Some pregnant women were subjected to gender based violence, in all its forms, as they were locked up with their abusers. This negatively impacted on the achievement of Universal Health Coverage.

However, solutions are emerging as countries begin to rebuild. In Zimbabwe, the Government of Japan and the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, today signed a US$ 1,3 million partnership grant in a project that will help save the lives of pregnant women in the country.

In a statement, UNFPA said as of 2019, the country had a high maternal mortality rate of 462 deaths per 100,000 live births. The increase was attributed to Covid-19.

Two urban areas Harare and Bulawayo were singled out as having marked increase in maternal and perinatal deaths.

According to the statement, this was because referral hospitals located in these cities received some of the most critical cases from around the country, including delayed referrals.

The statement further points out that additionally, there has been a disruption in the availability of resources and other factors beyond the control of the institutions.

During the first wave of COVID-19, the provision of maternal health care, including emergency obstetric and neonatal care services, was severely disrupted.

Through the project “Strengthening Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care in COVID-19 Hotspots in Zimbabwe”, Japan will provide support to improve the provision of maternal health care services within the context of COVID-19, specifically strengthening the referral system and ensuring the continuity of assisted delivery care in Harare and Bulawayo.

The support includes the procurement of medical equipment and expendable supplies to manage obstetric emergencies and prevent and control infection, including personal protective equipment (PPE). It also includes the procurement of ambulances for several hospitals in order to strengthen emergency care, and the training of maternity care providers in emergency obstetric care and management of COVID-19 during pregnancy.

Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Satoshi Tanaka said the project will ensure prioritisation of maternal health services.

“During a crisis, it is often women and children who suffer the most. Japan decided to provide this support to help ensure that maternity services are prioritised, and mothers and new-born babies receive the care that they deserve”, Ambassador Tanaka said.

UNFPA Zimbabwe Country Representative, Dr Esther Muia said the project would help to avert preventable maternal and perinatal deaths.

“This project aims to reverse the negative tide in maternal and perinatal outcomes, and increase the resilience of the health system in Harare and Bulawayo to cope with the impact of COVID-19”, said Dr Muia.

“This will help to avert preventable maternal and perinatal deaths through strengthening the capacity of the central hospitals and maternity polyclinics to provide effective and efficient comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care. We are extremely grateful for this support by the Government of Japan and look forward to even greater cooperation in the future to change the lives of women, children and families as a whole.”

UNFPA further says there are an estimated 15,000 and 45,000 deliveries annually in Bulawayo and Harare respectively.

Of these about 9,000 (15 percent) women have obstetric complications and require access to emergency obstetric care services. An estimated 60,000 women will be reached through the proposed interventions.