MARTERNAL HEALTH Archives

Organization formed to close maternal and neonatal services access gap

November 1, 2023 Ntokozo Gudu

An organization has been established to improve access to maternal and neonatal care for vulnerable women through paying for their maternity registration. By Nthokozo Gudu Mother’s Comfort is a registered Private Voluntary Organization based in Harare, whose aim is to improve the quality life of vulnerable women and their children. The organization’s mandate fulfils its motto, “Nurturing moms to be”. Mother’s comfort also intends to provide newborn babies’ essentials which are required upon delivery. In an interview with Mother’s Comfort Managing Director Nyasha Jose Chirenje expressed concern over how women…

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“Report when Doctors Refer You To Their Private Surgeries” Says Minister Of Health

October 23, 2023October 23, 2023 Takunda Mandura

The Minister of Health and Childcare, Dr Douglas Mombershora has told parliament that patients must report to him when you there are reffered to private practices from government hospital. By Takunda Mandura Responding to a question by Hon Getrude Mutandi during questions and answers session What is the Government policy on medical doctors who refer patients to their private surgeries? For example, expecting mothers are referred to their private surgeries when in actual fact, medical assistance can be rendered at Government hospitals,” said Hon Mutandi . Dr Mombershora assured the…

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Zimbabwe Establishes E-Learning Platform For Midwifery Training

August 29, 2023August 29, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

In a bid to strengthen the provision of reproductive health services in hard-to-reach areas and during emergencies, the United Nations Population Fund in Zimbabwe (UNFPA-Zimbabwe) is supporting the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) to develop an E-Learning platform for pre-service and in-service midwifery training. By Michael Gwarisa The system was developed in 2022 as part of efforts to scale up digital innovations to facilitate capacity building and delivery of quality service through support from the Health Development Fund (HDF). According to the UNFPA Zimbabwe 2022 Annual Report, there…

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Tavern Of Life: Concession Pub Transforms Into Vibrant Clinic

August 9, 2023August 10, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

For decades, Dandamira bar in Ward 15, Concession, Mazowe District, had served wise waters to thirsty revellers from within the community and passers-by. Pleasure managers and those who grew up in the area during the Tavern’s heyday confess that the pub would even eclipse some morden urban joints. By Michael Gwarisa Despite the flowery history the building holds, its clients from Dandamira and other surrounding wards were struggling to access basic healthcare services. For several years, people from the community would walk or travel 7 Kilometres to Concession District Hospital…

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UNFPA Zimbabwe Explores Use Of Drones To Reach Women and Girls In Inaccessible Areas With Services

August 2, 2023August 2, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

The United Nations Population Fund in Zimbabwe (UNFPA-Zimbabwe), says it will soon be rolling out Drone Technology to deliver services to women and girls in hard-to-reach areas. By Michael Gwarisa The move is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which recognize innovation as critical to accelerating progress towards global development aspirations as it ensures they deliver on their three transformative results to end preventable maternal death, end unmet need for family planning, and end violence gender-based violence (GBV) and all harmful practices, including female genital mutilation and child…

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A Fruitful Marriage: Urban Voucher System Reduces Maternal Deaths in Harare’s Central Hospitals/Council Clinics

July 28, 2023July 29, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

Like many women in high-density and peri-urban communities, Method Pagiwa (26), from Kuwadzana Phase in Harare, registered her pregnancy with the Antenatal Clinic at Rujeko Polyclinic in Dzivarasekwa, when she was seven months into her pregnancy. This, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards is not recommended as they prescribe that women in developing countries such as Zimbabwe, should seek ANC within four months (17 Weeks) of pregnancy. By Michael Gwarisa On July 7, 2023, Method started experiencing labor pains and her waters broke while she was on her…

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SOWP Report Findings a Wake-Up Call for Zim Government to Respect Women’s Bodily Autonomy

July 27, 2023July 27, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

GOVERNMENT should allow women the power to make decisions regarding their own Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), a top Zimbabwe Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Small and Medium Enterprises official has said. By Michael Gwarisa This was revealed during the launch of the 2023 State of the World Population Report (SWOP) in the Capital Harare. The report was conducted by the United National Population Fund (UNFPA) and revealed that while the world population has reached the 8 billion mark, more women and girls were still lagging in terms of access…

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Woman Relives 12 Year Ordeal With Obstetric Fistula

May 24, 2023May 24, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

AS an orphan and at age 14, Tendai Chimana (now 40), got into an early child marriage. This occurred after she had dropped out of school in Grade 7 and started working as a house help in Harare since she had relocated from her rural home in Birchenough Bridge, Manicaland. By Michael Gwarisa Some months into her marriage, she conceived and everything was normal. Trouble only came around the third trimester when her husband suggested that she goes and deliver the child in rural Bocha where her aunt resided. It…

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Mashonaland Central Has Highest Number of Girls Married Before the Age of 15

March 1, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

A preliminary 2022 Census Report on Fertility has shown that the prevalence of teen pregnancies was highest in Mashonaland Central province, leading to spike in early child marriages in the province. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Zimbabwe Statistical Agency 2022 report, the proportion of women age 20-24 years who were married before the age of 15 years by province was 2.2 percent for Mashonaland Central province, 1.7 percent for Manicaland province and 0.3 percent for Matabeleland South province. The province also recorded the highest number for women age 20-24…

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SET A THIEF TO CATCH A THIEF: How AWET Health interventions have reduced home deliveries Among Apostolic Women and Girls in Shurugwi

February 20, 2023February 20, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

Caroline Ngosha (23), from Shurugwi is expecting her third child in a few months’ time. In both her previous pregnancies, she delivered her children at home in line with the dictates of her religion, a white garment apostolic sect. Some apostolic sects in Zimbabwe do not allow their followers to use family planning or contraception methods. Neither do they sanction female followers to register with the Anti Natal Clinic (ANC), later on deliver in a health institution. By Michael Gwarisa in Shurugwi She remembers vividly how life threatening giving birth…

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