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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke, Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe and Russia have partnered to increase the capacity of local health professionals working in emergency obstetric and neonatal care as part of continuing efforts to reduce mortality rates for mothers and new born babies.
This comes on the back of a visit by a team of nine Russian specialists who are in the country to share their expertise in the management of neonatal and obstetric complications with local specialists.
The training, which began on Monday this week, was aimed at addressing the skills gap that the country is facing in these fields.
Speaking at the last training session in Harare yesterday, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said the move reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare services for all.
“We are deeply appreciative of Russia’s support in our efforts to mitigate maternal and infant mortality. Their commitment to sharing best practices and enhancing the capabilities of our healthcare workers is invaluable. The knowledge and skills gained during this training will go a long way in addressing the gaps in our health delivery system, ultimately benefiting the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.
While Zimbabwe has made commendable progress in reducing maternal mortality-evidenced by high antenatal care coverage and increased institutional deliveries, the country is still falling short of meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Specifically, the targets include reducing maternal mortality rates to below 70 per 100 000 live births and neonatal rates below 12 per 1 000 live births.
Zimbabwe and Russia have been collaborating on programmes aimed at enhancing the country’s health service delivery system. Over 50 Zimbabwean medical professionals participate annually in exchange programmes with Russia, where they benefit from advanced medical training and research.
“We have had some students going to study in Russia, in the medical field, but it was not a well-coordinated programme. Some of the students went on their own and some of them are facing difficulties raising the money to train. So, what we want to do is to see a more organised way to help us train more in the medical field,” Minister Mombeshora said.
Besides training health personnel, Russia recently donated cholera commodities valued at US$44 000 demonstrating its commitment to supporting the health sector.
Additionally, the recent agreement for Russia to provide helicopters as air service ambulances represents a significant enhancement to the country’s emergency medical response capabilities.
Russian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Nikolai Krasilnikov said the medical team had been deployed by the Russian National Medical Research Centre for Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Perinatology (Kulakov Centre), to share their knowledge and expertise.
“On behalf of the Russian team and the Embassy of Russia, I have the honour to express gratitude to the Honourable Minister and to all Zimbabwean friends for the hospitality and the keen interest in the skills and competence that our country is willing to share.
“We are very encouraged by the positive response to the invitation extended to Zimbabwean doctors to participate in the Kulakov Centre seminars in Moscow in November. Maternal and child health is one of the priorities of the Russian public health service,” he said.
Bilateral cooperation in healthcare had always been high on the agenda of friendly and cordial discussions held by President Putin and President Mnangagwa.
One of the trainers, Dr Kseniia Gorina, an obstetrician and gynaecologist in Moscow, said the mission was key in ensuring that Zimbabwean doctors respond to emergencies in the delivery room.
“This is my first experience in Africa and in Zimbabwe.
“The rate of maternal and neonatal deaths is high and we are trying to share our experience on how to reduce the level. We worked with obstetricians, midwives and neonatologists, to give them advice on how to work in emergency cases in the delivery room. That is not only the Russian experience but worldwide high-quality guidelines which we also use in Russia,” she said.Ministry of Health and Child Care director family health Dr Dorcas Mutede said the participants had received both theory and practical lessons which enabled them to experience real-life case scenarios on what they would do whenever they managed their patients.
Online Reporter