Online Reporter
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Senior Health Reporter
Obstetricians and gynaecologists have been urged to translate scientific research into practical interventions that improve maternal, newborn and child health outcomes.
This comes as Africa continues to grapple with persistent gaps in access to quality reproductive, maternal and neonatal healthcare.
Officially opening the joint Zimbabwe Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ZSOG) and East, Central and Southern Africa College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ECSACOG) annual scientific conference in Harare yesterday, Health and Child Care Secretary Dr Aspect Maunganidze said evidence, data and innovation should guide health policies and clinical practice.
He noted that the conference theme, “Standardising Obstetric and Gynaecological Care in the ECSA Region to Achieve Zero Preventable Deaths”, was timely as the region continued to face challenges of maternal, perinatal and neonatal deaths.
“The real value of this week’s achievements will be measured by how the knowledge, skills and science represented here are translated into better health outcomes. This is really the purpose of our gathering, where we want to see science improving lives,” he said.
Dr Maunganidze emphasised that research should strengthen clinical decision-making, improve emergency responses and reduce delays in accessing appropriate care.
He stressed the importance of timely implementation of proven interventions, noting that even a few minutes could determine the outcome of a complicated delivery.
“Time is everything and I think obstetricians have taught us a lot about this. A few minutes can determine the outcome of a complicated delivery. And the same is true for the implementation of every best intervention. Good science that is not implemented on time cannot save lives,” he said.
He reiterated the importance of strengthened antenatal and postnatal care, early identification of high-risk pregnancies, improved emergency management of surgical and newborn cases, stronger health systems and better access to essential medicines.
Dr Maunganidze also called for maternal and perinatal death reviews to result in concrete action rather than becoming routine administrative exercises.
“As a ministry we are stepping up our efforts to make sure all these recommendations are carried out and all involved are accountable. If the science tells us that a particular intervention works, then let’s standardise it. If data identifies a weak point, then let’s fix it. And if innovation can improve outcomes, then let’s adopt those innovations,” he said.
The conference followed the inaugural ECSACOG graduation ceremony, where the first cohort of specialists from the regional college graduated, marking an important milestone in strengthening specialist obstetric and gynaecological capacity in the region.
Dr Maunganidze said the focus had now shifted from celebrating academic achievements to ensuring that the knowledge gained translated into better health outcomes.
He added that reducing maternal and newborn deaths was not only a health-sector priority, but also central to Zimbabwe’s national development aspirations under Vision 2030.
He further emphasised the importance of regional collaboration, saying no single institution or country could overcome the challenges facing maternal and newborn health on its own.
“No individual institution or country can overcome the challenges that we are talking about alone. So we have discussed the challenges for many years and there is a lot of evidence in various conferences and scientific papers. I can see in the room that we have expertise. So what is left is to act on what we already know. The time for assured implementation is now,” he said.
Dr Maunganidze challenged delegates to ensure their deliberations resulted in practical, evidence-based and implementable solutions. He urged participants to ensure their work contributed to longer, healthier and more productive lives for people in Zimbabwe and across the region.
