Mash Central records decline in maternal mortality
MASHONALAND Central Province has recorded a 60 percent decline in maternal deaths in the past year, owing to the availability of specialist doctors, who are implementing targeted interventions to ensure that no woman dies while giving birth.
The province, which recorded 20 deaths between January and May last year, has reported eight deaths in the same period this year.
Provincial Medical Director (PMD) Dr Cremence Chuma said the province, which previously did not have any specialist doctors, had recruited most of the specialist doctors required to ensure all services become available.
“We used to be the only Hospital (Bindura Provincial) which did not have specialist doctors and as a result, we used to transfer all our patients who needed specialist care to Harare,” he said.
“Now we have almost all specialists required in the province to make sure that we have very few referrals and that has actually improved service delivery. One of the challenges, we used to have was high maternal deaths, yet our policy is that no woman should die while giving life.
“Now we have managed to halve that because one of the specialists is an obstetrician and gynaecologist. We hope we will continue reducing the number of deaths.”
Maternal death can happen while a woman is pregnant, during labour and delivery, or in the 42 days after childbirth or the termination of pregnancy.
According to the World Health Organisation, the leading causes of maternal deaths are haemorrhage and hypertension, which together account for more than half of maternal deaths.
Indirect causes, which include deaths due to conditions such as malaria, HIV/AIDS and cardiac diseases, account for about one-fifth of maternal deaths. Zimbabwe has one of the highest maternal mortality rates at 362 deaths per 100 000 live births in 2022.
Shamva District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr Tendayi Kamuriwo said the availability of specialists had improved services at the district hospital.
“There has been a great improvement in terms of maternal services, because of the advent of specialist doctors who are actually resident in the provincial hospital.
“We normally refer complicated cases to the provincial hospital if there is need, but we also have our own theatre here so we do most of the caesarian sections. When we are doing a case here, there is a provision that the specialist can actually come from Bindura and assist us ,” he said.
Last year, Shamva reported one maternal death after the patient came in late. But this year, the district has not recorded any maternal deaths.
Dr Kamuriwo said the doctors based at the district hospitals now had the confidence to perform complicated cases and this had reduced the number of referrals to the provincial hospital.
Mothers who gave birth at Shamva District Hospital expressed appreciation at having the services of specialist doctors.
Said Ms Samantha Mairos from Susuman Farm: “This is my third child, but I delivered my first two children at the local clinic. With this one, I was transferred to the hospital and at some point I was afraid that I could lose my baby.
“This was my first time coming to the hospital, but I am happy with the way I was treated. The doctors were available and the nurses treated me with great care.”