Registering for antenatal services at most city council clinics costs about $50, while mission hospitals and other rural government hospitals charge about $20. According to NAC’s third quarter report, 74 percent of women attend antenatal clinics against an annual target of 96 percent.
“Many hospitals around the country have not scrapped the hospital user fee and that is forcing many women to give birth at home because they cannot afford it. However women need proper care and should deliver at health institutions,” reads the report.
In addition to financial constraints, long distances to health facilities and poor knowledge of antenatal care were cited as some of the challenges still facing women. A doctor at Parirenyatwa Hospital said most women were ignorant of the purpose of antenatal care and had misconceptions of its purpose and timing – which could have contributed to the low turnout.
Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Henry Madzorera told The Zimbabwean that government had adopted a policy to scrap user fees but was yet to implement it completely.
He said only 18 districts had benefited from the Health Transition Fund, financed by the European Union and other partner organisations, to ensure pregnant women received free services.
“This year only 18 districts selected on the pilot programme benefited from the fund and women in those districts were already enjoying free services. We will see if we can expand this early next year depending on the funds available,” said Madzorera.
According to the United Nations Population Fund, the maternal mortality ratio in Zimbabwe has worsened significantly over the past 20 years. At least eight women die every day while giving birth, to a maternal mortality ratio of 725 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the Zimbabwe Maternal and Perinatal Mortality Study.
Post published in: News