Harare, 4 Nov. 2013 -- The United Nations Country team in Zimbabwe, women’s activists, and the Ministry of Health and Child Care spoke loudly on one of Zimbabwe’s health challenges as the United Nations Agencies in Zimbabwe celebrated the 68th anniversary of the United Nations at Chitungwiza Central Hospital with a call “For Safer Motherhood in Zimbabwe”.

All speakers on the day reiterated that the death of a mother is not just a health problem, but also a social and developmental problem. According to the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey of 2010-11, the maternal mortality ratio in Zimbabwe is at 960 deaths per 100 000 live births. This means about 10 women die for every 1000 live births. This translates to about 3 000 women dying each year from pregnancy related conditions.

This is among the highest in the world and is double the average rate in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to WHO estimates, maternal health complications are costing the country at least USD 132 million a year. High maternal death figures in Zimbabwe can be attributed to many factors including high user fees at health centers; inability to retain health care professionals by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, and some religious and traditional beliefs and practices to accessing care, among others. In response to these, the Honorable Minister of Health and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa said, “The Government is committed to resolve these challenges through various policies, strategies and programmes aimed at promoting safer motherhood.”

The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr Alain Noudehou reaffirmed the United Nations’ support to the government of Zimbabwe to bring down maternal mortality figures to acceptable levels. “On our part, as the United Nations Country Team, we stand ready and committed to continue working under the vision and leader-ship of the Government to help tackle this issue of maternal mortality,” he said.

In a passionate statement, the Director of Women’s Action Group, Ms. Edna Masiwa called upon the Ministry of Health and Child Care to consider putting into place measures which ensure the effective im-plementation of the national policy of no user-fees for pregnant women to access maternal care. Zimba-bwe has a policy of no user-fees for pregnant wom-en but it is not being implemented. “Carrying a preg-nancy for 9 months is a national duty, so there should be no user fees when having a baby in hospi-tal,” said Ms Masiwa. She also encouraged men to be active participants in all maternal issues, and urged all men to “Perekedza nhumbu yako ku-chipatara” (take your pregnancy to the hospital.)

Speaking at the sidelines of the commemoration, the WHO Representative, Dr David Okello said “ I am pleased to see the UN and all other guest speakers talk out loudly and eloquently on these matters; pregnancy is not a disease. We need to have activ-isms on matters of maternal deaths until we see a significant decline of these appalling maternal death figures in Zimbabwe.”

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