MARTERNAL HEALTH Archives

Zimbabwe Considers Cost Recovery Strategy For Family Planning Products

November 17, 2024 Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Amid growing donor fatigue and declining international support, Zimbabwe is pursuing a cost recovery framework for contraceptive commodities to ensure the sustainability and accessibility of reproductive health services. Spearheaded by the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) and other partners, this initiative aims to maintain progress in reproductive health despite diminishing external funding. Like many nations dependent on donor contributions, Zimbabwe is seeking strategies to sustain its family planning programs. The proposed cost recovery framework intends…

37 Years A Slave To Obstetric Fistula: Gogo Nyazvigo Finally Gets Repaired

September 23, 2024September 23, 2024 Patricia Mashiri

By Patricia Mashiri At age 13 In 1987, a few years after Zimbabwe had attained her independence, Gogo Memory Nyazvigo now 50, from Mudzi, Nyamapanda went to the health facility expecting to deliver her first child. Unfortunately, she lost the baby during childbirth as he came head first and got stuck in the birth canal, prompting doctors to conduct an emergency cesarean section. A few days that followed, she started experiencing something unusual. She would mess her clothes and would pass out urine uncontrollably, a condition known as Obstetric Fistula.…

Government of Zimbabwe and partners recognise midwives in Zimbabwe

May 23, 2024May 23, 2024 Kuda Pembere

Harare, Zimbabwe, 22 May 2024 – The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) through the Zimbabwe Confederation of Midwives (ZICOM) with support from the Embassy of Sweden and the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) Wednesday commemorated the International Day of the Midwives with recognition of 15 midwives from Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces who have excelled in their work. The International Day of the Midwife (IDM) is an important calendar day for all midwives and partners worldwide. It was established in 1992 by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) to honour…

Taking Pregnancy Testing To Women’s Doorstep: How Village Health Workers Are Bridging the Maternal Health Divide In Rural Mutare

March 26, 2024March 27, 2024 Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is currently on a positive trajectory regarding maternal health amidst indications of a decline in maternal mortality at the back of numerous interventions by the government and several partners. Data from the Zimbabwe Statistics Agency (Zimstat) Vital Statistics report of 2023 shows that infant and maternal mortality rates have declined by 20 and 36 percent respectively. The 2022 Population and Housing Census data shows that maternal mortality in Zimbabwe reduced from 960 per 100,000 live births in 2010, to 363 in 2022. Despite the milestones recorded,…

Mothers’ Waiting Shelters Reduce Maternal Mortality Rates In Mat South

March 12, 2024March 13, 2024 Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere recently in Mat South Province Driven by the need to address challenges faced with expecting mothers during childbirth, maternity waiting homes have contributed to a reduction in the number women who die whilst giving birth in Matabeleland South province. The shelters are being established through financial support from the Health Resilience Fund (HRF) with the purposes of reducing maternal mortality from 462 to 240 per 100 000 live births and neonatal mortality from 32 to 20 per 1000 live births by 2025. HRF is funded by the…

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…

“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…

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…

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…