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despite the leadership’s commitment to treat the matter as urgent.
The money was raised in October 2010 following Zimbabwe’s successful launch of the Campaign for Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) by DPM Khupe, also the campaign’s goodwill ambassador.
“The money was supposed to be used for a pilot project which was going to see specified clinics receiving maternal fees in advance and expecting women would deliver for free at the selected institutions,” said Dr Samukele Hadebe, the principal director in the office of DPM Khupe.
But he failed to explain why 14 months later, the money was still in an account referring all questions to the board.
“After that fund-raising was done, a board of trustees was appointed to manage the funds,” he said.
However, none of the board members was readily available for comment.
Pregnant women who were failing to register for maternity have cited the high user fees as a hindrance.
In Harare maternity fees are currently pegged at US$25 at council clinics.
These charges were contributing to a growing number of women delivering at home as they failed to raise the required registration fees.
Failure to deliver under supervision of skilled personnel is one of the reasons Zimbabwe has recorded high numbers of pregnancy-related deaths and complications.
According to the Zimbabwe maternal and perinatal mortality study (2007), the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) has trebled to 725 deaths for 100 000 live births.
However, with CARMMA in place involved leaders vowed to ensure that user fees among other hindrances are scrapped.
The fund-raising events were supposed to take place on a yearly basis to mitigate maternal challenges.
A senior official from the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare said at one point they were asked to submit proposals of most needs.
“We advised them that most clinics needed high blood pressure machines but since then nothing has been done. That proposal was done six months ago,” said a source in the Ministry of Health.
Contacted on the issue, Health Minister Henry Madzorera distanced himself from the fund.
“That project was done by the DPM’s office and any questions should be directed to that office accordingly,” said Dr Madzorera.
Apart from the fund-raising event, CARMMA has successfully advocated for the reduction of maternity fees from US$50 to the current US$25.
DPM Khupe has also assisted in the refurbishment of Harare, Victoria Falls and United Bulawayo Hospitals, among other projects.
Online Reporter