Zimbabwe Targets Local Dairy Packaging Recycling Plant with 1,000-Ton Monthly Waste Collection Goal

📅 Published: August 21, 2025

📰 Source: healthtimes

Curated by AllZimNews.com

He also noted that Zimbabwe has made progress in reducing maternal mortality, which according to the 2024 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) stands at 363 deaths per 100,000 live births. “So you note that there are various highlights that we have achieved, and fortunately there are also a few areas that still have challenges.

One of the highlights is that we have done very well in reducing maternal mortality.

However, with that we expect that we also do well in neonatal or perinatal mortality,” Dr Maunganidze said. “These usually go hand in hand.

We have noted an increase in perinatal mortality, and our Technical Working Group on Family Health has been grappling with all measures and factors that might have led to this, and we are glad to have that in place. ”
He explained that the Technical Working Group on Family Health identified challenges contributing to the rise. “We have looked at issues of equipment.

We have looked at issues of human resources.

We have looked at issues of the referral system.

We have noted some gaps in those areas, and we are strengthening them to make sure that we reduce this perinatal mortality from 37, that it is, to at least 20 within the next two years,” he said.

Dr Maunganidze added that the ministry is prioritizing this goal. “So this is a work in progress, but the highlights of achievements, I think when you look at the global picture, we seem to be doing quite well in the health sector, but we need to make sure that the gaps are taken care of.

In particular, when we lose any child, any loss of a child is not desirable,” he said.

Najibullah Safi, coordinator of Strategic Health, Policy and Planning at the World Health Organization (WHO) Zimbabwe Country Office, commended the country’s progress but stressed the need to tackle neonatal mortality. “Well, if you look at the result of the recent DHS demographic health survey, I think Zimbabwe is doing a great job in improving life expectancy and reducing the maternal mortality rate.

But there are areas that were discussed previously by the Permanent Secretary as well, that neonatal mortality or perinatal mortality, and that needs additional work to reduce those mortalities across the country,” he said.

Mrs Vuyelwa Sidile-Chitimbire, Executive Director at the Zimbabwe Association of Church-Related Hospitals (ZACH), said mission hospitals are addressing the problem by setting up mothers’ waiting homes. “So critical for Zimbabwe is to make sure that the mother and child’s life are well-protected and well-resourced so that we lives.