Friday, March 29, 2024

24 Chipata expectant mothers died in 2017

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Luangeni Member of Parliament (MP) Charles Zulu
A total of 24 expectant mothers died last year in Chipata district due to various maternal complications.

Chipata District Maternal and Neonatal Nursing Officer Sara Tembo revealed that 24 expectant women died in the district in 2017 with the last one dying on 28th December.

Ms. Tembo said it was unacceptable that mothers have continued to die while giving birth due to various maternal complications in the district.

She was speaking during the handover of a maternity wing at Makwe health post in Chipata yesterday.

She said it was the wish of the Ministry of Health to have a maternity wing at every health facility so that expectant mothers can deliver in a conducive environment with the help of trained health personnel.

Ms. Tembo said the district health office is extremely happy that a maternity wing has been built at Makwe health post which will greatly help expectant mothers seeking various antenatal services.

And Luangeni Member of Parliament Charles Zulu also expressed sadness that expectant mothers have continued to lose lives despite measures being in put in place by both government and the traditional leadership.

He said the maternity wing that has been handed over to the community in Makwe area will surely help expectant mothers access maternal services closer to their homes.

Mr. Zulu explained that expectant mothers in the area used to cover long distances to Mwami Mission Hospital to seek various antenatal services.

He said the facility, which has been built at a total cost of K250, 000 will cushion the number of maternal deaths in the area as well as shorten the distance being covered by expectant mothers.

Mr. Zulu has since appealed to the people of Makwe to make sure that they guard the facility jealously especially against vandalism.

The lawmaker also donated beds, mattresses and blankets valued at more than K5, 000 to the health post.

2 COMMENTS

  1. 24 women died in 1 district and Zambia probably now has more than 100 district… I wonder how many of our women died last year while giving birth.

    The money that was corruptly used to buy cheap second fire trucks could have been used to improve health services and save our mothers.

  2. Where are our priorities as a nation.?Would you rather spend K250, 000 for maternity wings or spend $ 42 million on fire trucks? The death of a woman in pregnancy is a tragedy for her family and for society as a whole.These deaths are preventable.The number 24 is not just another statistic, it represents lives of women who had dreams and aspirations to fulfill.The 24 women in question are only for Chipata but what about the whole of Zambia? How long are we going to keep silent? Has death for Zambians become normal?it is NOT normal to be losing women to conditions that are totally preventable? These 24 cannot speak for themselves as to what happened but we can speak for them by making commitments to preventing pregnancy-related deaths and ensure the best possible birth outcomes.

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