Hence, you must carry the word to your communities,” he said.“Let us work together and put a stop to home deliveries. Expecting mothers must deliver at a clinic or hospital where skilled health workers are available. This is the only way to protect both mothers and children from unnecessary deaths and diseases.
I am disappointed with the low numbers registered with the clinic during pregnancy,” he said.The government has invested in and is initiating several programs to address the challenges of perceived high maternal mortality rates in Zimbabwe by equipping healthcare providers with the necessary skills to manage obstetric complications effectively.Despite these efforts, maternal mortality remains a major concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that Zimbabwe records over 360 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.The National AIDS Council (NAC) District AIDS Coordinator for Gokwe South, Isaka Chiwara, said the initiated community engagements are tailor-made to safeguard mothers and children from risking their lives.“We are implementing various interventions, including PMTCT and encouraging early registration for antenatal services,” he said. “If mothers register early and visit the clinic until delivery, as a nation we can reduce mother-to-child HIV infections and improve maternal health at all levels.
Gokwe South has an HIV prevalence of close to 6 percent; therefore, we are implementing various initiatives, namely the peer-led strategy, which has started to bear positive fruit.”Meanwhile, Katema Clinic Community Health Nurse and District HIV Focal Person, Nomatter Kamudande, said efforts are directed at motivating couples in Gokwe South to desist from home deliveries and seek medical assistance during pregnancy.“We are working towards getting rid of new infections, and the major challenge for now is the reluctance by community members to seek medical assistance while pregnant. We therefore urge men to accompany their wives for antenatal services because pregnancy care is a family responsibility,” she said.“When couples get tested together for HIV and syphilis, it not only protects the unborn child but also strengthens trust and support in the family.” Traditional leaders have vowed to complement the government’s efforts to impart maternal health information to people in lower tiers of the community, aiming to reduce maternal deaths and new HIV infections among newborns. This follows reports that expecting mothers in rural communities are opting for home deliveries due to cultural and religious beliefs, putting their lives and their babies at risk.
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Addressing village heads and community members during a Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) community dialogue at Katema Clinic in Gokwe South, Headman Katema urged other leaders to constantly engage with couples in their communities to seek medical assistance upon conceiving. He added that all precautionary measures must be taken to safeguard the health of unborn babies and prevent them from contracting HIV and AIDS. “As community leaders, you have a duty to play in complementing government efforts aimed at reducing maternal deaths and new HIV and AIDS infections.
Hence, you must carry the word to your communities,” he said. “Let us work together and put a stop to home deliveries. I am disappointed with the low numbers registered with the clinic during pregnancy,” he said.
The government has invested in and is initiating several programs to address the challenges of perceived high maternal mortality rates in Zimbabwe by equipping healthcare providers with the necessary skills to manage obstetric complications effectively. Despite these efforts, maternal mortality remains a major concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that Zimbabwe records over 360 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
The National AIDS Council (NAC) District AIDS Coordinator for Gokwe South, Isaka Chiwara, said the initiated community engagements are tailor-made to safeguard mothers and children from risking their lives. “We are implementing various interventions, including PMTCT and encouraging early registration for antenatal services,” he said. Gokwe South has an HIV prevalence of close to 6 percent; therefore, we are implementing various initiatives, namely the peer-led strategy, which has started to bear positive fruit.” Meanwhile, Katema Clinic Community Health Nurse and District HIV Focal Person, Nomatter Kamudande, said efforts are directed at motivating couples in Gokwe South to desist from home deliveries and seek medical assistance during pregnancy.
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