adminlast week as the issue of maternal mortality took centre stage.
The dialogue was attended by United Nations representatives and Health and Child Welfare ministry officials with the aim of improving the MDGs target reach in the country in order to catch up with the 1 000 days left to the MDG’s deadline of the year 2015.
The dialogue resolved to ensure adequate supplies of critical maternal and newborn health and medical equipment and commodities such as blood products.
It was noted that three quarters of maternal deaths are attributed to: time taken to seek health care, time needed to reach a health facility and time taken to access care at the health facility.
Speaking during the dialogue principal director in the Health and Child Welfare ministry Dr Gibson Mhlanga said the economic decline the country witnessed in the past few years inflenced the rise in maternal mortality.
“The harsh economic situation which hit the country in the past few years contributed significantly to the rise in maternal mortality because lots of our skilled staff fled the country in search of greener pastures abroad leaving the country starved of skilled personal in our health institutions.
“We reached a stage where there were no drugs in our health facilities as a result of the economic decline but with the aid of the UN’s Health Transition Fund we are doubling our efforts in fighting this challenge,” he said.
Dr Basile Tambashe, who was representing UNFPA, said there was a need to ensure that health facilities had skilled and qualified personnel.
“In order for the country to bring down maternal mortality there should be more concentration in the recruitment of skilled and qualified personnel who have the necessary expertise in helping mothers to deliver at the health institutions.
“We need to get to the bottom of every case of maternal death in order for the health personnel to really ascertain some of the major causes of maternal mortality,” he said.
Online Reporter