The Copperbelt Province has continued TO record high cases of maternal deaths with 27 new cases being recorded in the first five months of 2018.
Addressing journalists In Ndola today, Copperbelt Provincial Medical Director, Alex Makupe said that despite witnessing a reduction in the number of cases recorded in the first five months of 2018 compared to 50 cases recorded during the same period in 2017, it is worrying that the province has continued losing mothers during child birth.
Dr. Makupe said most of the cases have been recorded from major hospitals such as the Ndola and Kitwe Teaching Hospitals and
Nchanga Hospital in Chingola.
He cited late registration and lack of anti-natal bookings, late reporting for deliveries and use of herbal medicine as some of the major causes of maternal deaths.
Dr. Makupe has however stated that his office is working tirelessly to ensure that the number of maternal deaths is reduced by half from the 94 recorded in 2017.
He noted that all things being equal, the Copperbelt Province targets to record less than 50 cases of maternal deaths by the end of 2018.
In mitigating this, Dr. Makupe said the Provincial Medical Office has decided to fully equip clinics such as Masala, Mwazi, Lubuto, Chipokotamayamba and Twapia Clinics with the necessary medical aid in order to decongest the Ndola Teaching Hospital.
He said Masala clinic alone records deliveries of about 250 per month, further stating that it was unacceptable for the province to continue recording higher numbers of maternal deaths when government has provided infrastructure coupled with human resource.
ZANIS reports that the Provincial Medical Director has also called for change of attitude among officers under his charge, a situation he said has already started yielding positive results.
Dr. Makupe has also called on media houses in the province to adequately report on maternal related cases adding that doing so will help in the reduction of maternal deaths.
Meanwhile, the Medical Director also disclosed that the province has witnessed an increase in the number of malaria and non-communicable diseases.
What is causing this to be happening and how can we stop it. It is scary for a woman to be in labor.
Solution is stop having sex!
Chief Editor, thanks so much for the post.Much thanks again. Really Cool.
27 is not just a number.It is lives of Zambian women who had dreams like anyone else but we let them down.
“He cited late registration and lack of anti-natal bookings, late reporting for deliveries and use of herbal medicine as some of the major causes of maternal deaths.”
Dr. Makupe, you need to increase your public education on the above raised issues.The country can not afford to lose such numbers to causes that can be avaoided