EXPECTANT mothers in Shurugwi last Friday breathed a sigh of relief following the construction of a mothers’ waiting shelter at Zvamavande Rural Hospital. STEPHEN CHADENGA OWN CORRESPONDENT
They now do not have to walk long distances to deliver babies.
The waiting shelter, which houses 30 expecting mothers, was the brainchild of the Women International Coalition (Wico) in conjunction with the Canadian embassy and the Tongogara Community Share Ownership Trust.
Speaking at the unveiling of the mothers’ shelter at Zvamavande, a Wico official Rebecca Chirenga said the project was aimed at improving child delivery in the Shurugwi community.
“This shelter will reduce maternal mortality. It is a milestone as it will help our mothers deliver healthy babies,” she said.
Expectant mothers at Zvamavande Hospital would be housed at the shelter for up to three weeks before delivery in a move expected to drastically reduce child birth complications.
Shurugwi North MP Tapiwa Matangaidze said the waiting shelter was a noble development that would reduce infant deaths in the Midlands district.
“The mothers’ shelter will help in reducing maternal and infant deaths in communities because mothers are attended to by skilled birth attendees,” Matangaidze said.
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Midlands provincial medical director Milton Chemhuru challenged mining companies in Shurugwi to play an active role in funding health infrastructure in the area.
“Zvamavande and other clinics need funding, hence mining companies should come on board to assist in building health infrastructure,” Chemhuru said.
Zvamavande services 27 clinics in rural Shurugwi and surrounding areas.
In 2013, about 49 expecting mothers died as a result of child birth complications in the Midlands and six were from Shurugwi.
