Health practitioners urge leaders to address childbirth mortality

Health practitioners have called upon civic leaders to prioritize the allocation of resources to tackle the pressing issue of childbirth mortality.
Dr. Ilunga Mutwale, a health practitioner at Kanyama Level One Hospital, emphasized the importance of equipping health facilities with the necessary equipment and trained personnel to effectively address mortality during childbirth.
“To effectively combat mortality during childbirth, it is crucial that health facilities are adequately equipped and staffed,” Dr. Mutwale stressed.
He further highlighted the need to educate women about the risks associated with childbearing in order to prevent complications.
Dr. Mutwale proposed conducting pre-marriage examinations to assess a woman’s suitability for carrying children and identify any underlying conditions that may pose a risk to the mother’s health or that of the unborn child.
“Multiple factors come into play, including maternal background factors such as underlying conditions like anemia as well as genetic factors involving both the man and the woman,” Dr. Mutwale explained.
 Rosemary Chishimba, a nurse at the N’khumbi Rural Health Center in Mukushi, identified several causes contributing to the increasing childbirth mortality rates. Ms. Chishimba said it includes the long distances women have to travel from their homes to healthcare facilities for antenatal services and delivery, early pregnancies, and negligence on the part of some health services.
 Ms. Chishimba appealed to the government to meet the needs of the people by ensuring the provision of qualified medical personnel, essential drugs, and necessary medical equipment across the country, including rural areas.
 “It is imperative that the government fulfill the needs of the people by ensuring the availability of qualified medical personnel, essential drugs, and medical equipment throughout the country, including rural areas,” Ms. Chishimba said.
 She also called upon traditional leaders, African leaders, and other stakeholders to allocate the necessary resources to establish an effective mortality surveillance system.
“These are some of the areas that require strengthening. Ultimately, it is about providing quality services to the people and ensuring access to these services. It is a collaborative effort involving all stakeholders,” Ms. Chishimba emphasized.
The urgency to address the escalating rates of maternal mortality highlights the pressing need for collaborative efforts and resource allocation to protect the lives of mothers and their children during childbirth.