A survey conducted by the Zambia Medical Association in Lusaka province has revealed that an average of 20 women give birth on the floor per day at the University teaching hospital – UTH- labour ward.
The report also says only an average of 40 deliver on the bed due to inadequate bed space at the highest health institution.
This is because the increase in population in the province has not been matched with expansion in health infrastructure and human resource.
The report released in Lusaka shows that UTH- labour ward has always had 17 bed spaces for delivery since 1969 when the maternity wing was opened yet the hospital has an average of 60 deliveries per day.
The report on the “State of Maternal and Newborn healthcare in Lusaka Province” commissioned in February this year has also discovered that UTH has a glaring shortage of midwives and theatre nurses which makes service delivery a challenge.
Making a presentation on the findings during a breakfast meeting today, Dr Swebby Macha who was taskforce secretary conducting the situational analysis said the picture at UTH is the same at other health facilities in Lusaka.
And in receiving the report, community development mother ad child health minister Emerine Kabanshi says government is determined to address maternal and new born health challenges.
Ms. Kabanshi has praised the Zambia Medical Association for carrying out the survey and said government will look at addressing the issues established by the survey.
yes this is serious and I hope the government will seriously look into this, we can t all afford to fly to south; the money for MP s salary increase and renovations of state lodges should go into revamping the health institutes of our country;
Hey ba Past newspaper pictures kaili!!! Is it because it’s not RB’s govt?
Guys tu lebako serious!!! It has taken us 35 years to carry out a survey on 17 beds???? Real Africa!!! The minister even stands on her pedestal to thank the surveyors??