Deaths during childbirth, stillbirths ring alarm bells in Zambia

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) – Zambia is grappling with high childbirth mortality owing to multiple healthcare challenges, including mishandling by midwives during deliveries in rural areas.

The country has been documenting nearly 80 deaths during childbirth per week due to various complications.

The Southern African nation also saw a record 4,500 stillbirths in 2021, according to Health Ministry statistics.

“This statistic is worrisome and needs urgent intervention, especially through midwife training and development of health infrastructure, especially in rural areas,” Sarah Ngoma, president of the Midwives Association of Zambia, said in a statement on Friday, a day after the International Day of the Midwife was observed around the world.

The group attributed the alarming figures in Zambia to a lack of timely access to essential health care during pregnancies.

Ngoma said a shortage of midwives “has compromised the quality of care and service delivery in maternal health,” urging the government to recruit more at the earliest.

During a visit to a nursing and midwifery training institute in central Zambia on Friday, Health Minister Sylvia Masebo claimed the government was taking several measures to improve maternal health care, including additional recruitment of health staff, especially midwives.​​​​​​​