Andrew
Fatima Bulla Musakwa
AS Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world in celebrating women this month, stakeholders have applauded the assistance to curb maternal deaths by the Japanese Government through a donation of US$1,3 million worth of equipment.
The Covid-19 pandemic threatened to undo the progress made towards reducing maternal deaths.
As at the end of 2019, maternal mortality rate stood at 462 deaths per 100 000 live births.
This stood in huge contrast to the global target of less than 70 per 100 000 live births.
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) – and in simpler terms – at least eight women die daily while trying to give life in Zimbabwe.
Availability of functional equipment is thus key to improve provision of maternal and child health care services, as well as emergency care.
To this extent, Japan provided the support to improve maternal health care services within the context of Covid-19, specifically strengthening the referral system and also ensuring continuity of assisted delivery care in Harare and Bulawayo.
This was carried out under a project named ‘Strengthening of Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care in Covid-19 hotspots of Harare and Bulawayo’.
The gesture is expected to benefit 60 000 women.
Received by Health and Child Care deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro, Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe His Excellency Tanaka Satoshi handed over eight ambulances, anaesthetic machines, operating tables, delivery tables, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, infusion pumps and examination lights.
Also donated were anti-shock garments, umbilical clamps, urinary protein test strips, doppler foetal heart monitor and midwifery kits, among others.
Applauding these efforts, Zimbabwe Confederation of Midwives (Zicom) president, Mr Emmanuel Mahlangu, said functional and good quality equipment enables the midwives and nurses to work faster, better and be able to reach many women and patients needing care.
“Every clinic and health institution requires adequate equipment for correcting maternity emergencies. The equipment for enabling operative childbirth is greatly appreciated as it helps ensure no woman should die in childbirth especially when such technological advances exist,” Mr Mahlangu said.
Equipment such as the anti-shock garment is a lifesaving equipment that helps overcome the most prevalent life-threatening condition of bleeding following childbirth.
Intensive care equipment is also essential for childbirth situations that complicate due to delays by people to come to hospital or in some circumstances, which go otherwise despite the best efforts of care.
Ambulances are also valuable to move patients from one level of care to the other promptly.
Said Mr Mahlangu:
“This life saving equipment is greatly appreciated and makes midwifery and nursing pleasurable to the care givers and appreciated by the families receiving care.
“Good equipment improves job satisfaction among caregivers. It allows the care standard to be in line with international standards thereby improving outcomes of service provided.”
Speaking as technical support providers of the project, UNFPA country representative, Dr Esther Muia, said maternal deaths in Zimbabwe were not getting the much-needed attention.
“Although we have seen signs of the decline, the number of women dying while giving life remains unacceptably high in Zimbabwe. When you calculate, it actually adds up to two jumbo jets crashing.
“And we know when one jumbo jet crashes it is headlines. And yet our mothers, sisters, wives are dying while bringing new life into the world,” said Dr Muia, explaining the impact.
Supporting the country’s health care system to achieve universal coverage and leave no one behind is one of the pillars of Japan’s cooperation with Zimbabwe, Ambassador Satoshi said.
“We hope that Japan’s support through these two projects will further contribute to ensuring universal health coverage in Zimbabwe and a health system that is robust enough to withstand future crises so that children, mothers, families and communities across Zimbabwe will be protected,” he said.
Zimbabwe like other countries has made a commitment to achieve sustainable development goal three to ensure healthy lives and promoting wellbeing for all at all ages.
There are an estimated 15 000 and 45 000 deliveries annually in Bulawayo and Harare, respectively.
Of these, about 9 000 women have obstetric complications and require access to emergency obstetric care services.
Online Reporter