adminTanaka Mahanya
UNITED Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reproductive health specialist, Edwin Mupeta, has stated that while maternal mortality rates in Zimbabwe are decreasing, they remain high.
He pointed out that cervical cancer is a significant contributor to this mortality, and added that although progress has been made, access to family planning services is critical in reducing maternal mortality rates.
He also highlighted concerns around the impact of emergencies, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, on the continuity of reproductive health services and the importance of government taking action to ensure the provision of essential services during such crises.
“We are doing well, but we still have a lot to do.
“Our age-standardised incidence rate is 62.3 per 100 000 women, three times the global average.
“Our maternal mortality has managed to reduce from a high of 960 deaths per 100 000 live births in 2010, to 363 in 2022,” he said.
He said family planning plays a critical role in reducing maternal mortality.
“Family planning also prevents maternal deaths. For married women, we are the highest in terms of contraceptives in the region.
“Around 86 percent of women are delivering in health facilities and we have a high usage of family planning, which makes the situation better,” he said.
“We are urging the Government to provide a minimum initial service package for reproductive health that has to be provided during emergencies.
“It includes delivery care and managing emergencies during delivery and family planning services.
“In any emergency, there is a rise in GBV so the systems should be capacitated to deal with the surge in the number of cases.
“Health facilities should have the necessary means to provide services around antenatal, delivery care, cervical cancer, HIV prevention, especially from mother to child,” he said.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter