STAFF WRITER
THERE have been concerted efforts by government with the support of civil society organisations to reduce maternal mortality particularly in rural areas, a senior health official has said.
The efforts have seen a decline in maternal deaths though a lot still needs to be done to ensure that no woman dies while giving birth.
Addressing journalists during a Health media thematic training Bulawayo Provincial Medical Director Dr Welcome Mlilo said non-governmental organisations have really done a good job in awareness campaigns to reduce maternal mortality.
“I have worked extensively in Binga, I had lots of teenagers who would deliver on a daily basis and it’s really a challenge. However, there has been a lot of involvement by civic society to try and reduce child pregnancies which in some cases have resulted in deaths.
“Many are being taught about these children’s pregnancies. The CSOs also liaise with us so that these cases are taken to the magistrate for trial,” Mlilo said.
He added that their intervention has helped in changing perception among people particularly those in rural areas.
There is also the issue of culture whereby expecting mothers delay in seeking health care, but CSOs are heavily involved at community levels in advocacy against child pregnenances. That has really helped in shifting perception of culture,” Mlilo said.
As a result, he said such cases have been going down over the years.
In addition to that, Mlilo said, government has also been training village health workers to deal with maternal and other health issues. He said the maternity waiting room at health centres was another intervention by government to reduce maternal mortality.
