Fortunate Gora Herald Correspondent
Government has raised concern at the number of maternal deaths in Mashonaland West Province amid reports that 48 women died while giving birth last year.

One maternal death has already been recorded in the province this year. In 2016, there were 43 cases of death due to complications associated with pregnancies.

Mashonaland West provincial health promotions officer Mr George Kambondo said Hurungwe, Chegutu and Makonde were the districts most plagued by maternal deaths in the province.

“In 2016, the province recorded 43 maternal-related deaths, with Makonde district topping with 15, followed by Chegutu with 11 and Hurungwe with eight cases,” he said.

“Last year, maternal deaths increased to 48, with Chegutu district recording the highest number with 17, followed by Hurungwe with 10, while Makonde recorded nine cases.” The major causes of high mortality, Mr Kambondo said, included excessive bleeding and delays in checking-in at health facilities. He said some women visited clinics and hospitals late.

“This is very dangerous because someone who is already in labour demands close monitoring to avoid unnecessary loss of life,” said Mr Kambondo.

“There are emergency complications where theatre will be the only option to save both the mother’s life and the unborn baby. So, if this happens, where there are no adequate resources, something bad will happen.”

Mr Kambondo said churches had a pivotal role to play in promoting maternal health.
Some religious and traditional beliefs, he said, were against modern medicine.

“Some people deny medical attention because of their church doctrines, for instance, they refuse to seek care at the health facilities, refusal of blood transfusion, refusal of modern medicines or surgical procedures,” he said.

Pregnant women, said Mr Kambondo, should stop relying on untested traditional beliefs such as elephant dung, which is believed to quicken labour or opening the birth canal. According to Mr Kambondo, some traditional concoctions may result in inconvenient and premature deliveries.

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