Safe arrivals programme launched

Officially launching the Safe arrivals, a programme that seeks to save lives of pregnant mothers and newborns at Chitungwiza Central Hospital last week, Deputy Minister Mombeshora said partnerships and co-ordinated efforts result in more achievements in the health sector.

The programme, sponsored by an international organisation Absolute Return for Kids, would see the recruitment and training of clinical officers for all district hospitals and equipping of 20 district hospitals with new-born corners.
The clinical officers would also train health care workers in emergency obstetric maternal and newborn care.

Clinical officers are nurse midwives trained to provide Caesarean section in pregnancy.
They can also provide medical and surgical services.
“Health systems are highly complex specific and all projects need to be designed with that in mind for better outcomes.
“It is therefore necessary to generate evidence from within Zimbabwe to inform best practices of moving the health agenda for better outcomes in a sustainable manner,” the deputy minister said.

The organisation has assisted in the construction of a classroom and a dormitory for clinical officers on training at Chitungwiza Central Hospital.
It also donated a 40-seater bus for the clinical officers’ programme.
Deputy Minister Mombeshora said in-service training of emergency obstetric maternal and new-born care is a critical component in averting pregnancy-related deaths.

ARK country director Dr Vonai Teveredzi said the organisation had invested in maternal and new-born care because of the high numbers of deaths recorded in Zimbabwe.
According to the latest Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey, at least 10 women die from pregnancy-related complications every day.

“ARK’s goal is to ensure that every pregnant woman and new-born child in Zimbabwe has access to a health care worker who is equipped and has the skills to save lives when emergency strikes,” she said.
Chitungwiza Central Hospital chief executive Dr Obadiah Moyo said his institution has since increased the number of students enrolled for the clinical officers’ training from 10 students per intake to 40.

He said two groups from the institution had been trained.
Deputy Minister Mombeshora, ARK officials and other funding partners had earlier toured the central hospital to witness recent refurbishments at the institution.
The deputy minister said the developments were impressive and a clear testimony of strong partnerships.