Thursday, March 28, 2024

Zambian maternal and child mortality drops significantly

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Professor Chomba with Ambassador Mulonda,  and Embassy of Zambia staff.
Professor Chomba with Ambassador Mulonda, and other members of the Zambian delegation

Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health Permanent Secretary Prof. Elwyn Chomba says maternal and child mortality have dropped significantly over the last couple of years.

Professor Chomba says infant mortality declined from 107 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1992 to 45 deaths per live births 1,000 in 2013/2014 while the maternal mortality from the 2013/2014 Zambia Demographic Health System (ZDHS) is 323-474 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 729 and 649 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1996 and 2001.

The Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health Permanent Secretary is in Washington DC attending the Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research meeting.
Professor Chomba says the research done in Ndola, Lusaka, Kafue and Chongwe has shown reduced child mortality and associated this to the increased training of birth attendants in ensuring that they make baby’s breathe soon after birth.

She added that traditional birth attendants are also trained to care for the babies up to 48 hours from birth.

Under the Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research, Zambia is rated among the countries with significant progress in maternal lifesaving interventions.

Professor Chomba added that the Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research was currently running another study in Zambia under Misoprosostol aimed at preventing severe bleeding that ultimately leads to death after delivery.

She noted it was important for Zambia to be part of the Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research because the country benefited from lifesaving initiatives for mothers and children, before, during and after delivery.

Professor Chomba added that Zambia had also benefited from the ‘First Look Study’ that provides for mobile ultra sound facilities that allow access to remote parts of Zambia.
She added that with the ‘First Look study‘, women have access to early scans on location and are transferred to hospitals if complications are detected at an early stage.

And speaking at the same meeting US Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary, Global Affairs Ambassador Jimmy Kolker said his office had worked tirelessly to direct policy towards the support of research and services in world health issues.

Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research is celebrating its 15 year of existence. Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States Palan Mulonda also attended the event.

Issued by
Patricia Littiya
First Secretary (Press and Public Relations)
Embassy of the Republic of Zambia
Washington DC 20008

7 COMMENTS

    • Are you serious?Behind these figures of 323-474 deaths per 100,000 are faces of women who had families.Some of these women died of preventable causes such as lack blood for transfusion,non functional or lack of equipment and poor infrastructure.Now tell me how of these women would have been saved from the 2.2 billion kwacha paid for Dr.Kaseba ‘s luxury stay at the lodge?
      Dr.Kaseba is specialist who understands better what 323-474 deaths per 1000 ,000.

  1. guys this was since 1992 …..so MMD at work in health ……now if you step outside lusaka you will see how poor this nation really is, i want to hear how grz has uplifted the rural poor then ill be happy

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