Rumbidzayi Zinyuke in NYANGA
NYANGA District has gone six months without recording a maternal death and four months without a perinatal death, which includes stillbirths and newborn deaths within the first seven days of life, despite persistent staffing and resource constraints.
The milestone was highlighted yesterday during a tour of Nyanga District Hospital by Health Service Commission (HSC) commissioners, who were assessing service delivery and staff working conditions.
Nyanga District Medical Officer Dr John Muungani attributed the achievement to the dedication of health workers in providing timely care.
Previously, the district recorded between three and four perinatal deaths a month and up to two maternal deaths annually.
“For the past six months, we have not recorded any maternal death in the district,” he said.
“We have also not recorded any perinatal death in the last four months. The district hospital would like to commend our staff for the great work they are doing in preserving maternal and child health services in the district.”
Dr Muungani said the district handles approximately 300 deliveries a month, including about 120 at the district hospital, which serves as the main referral centre for 32 health facilities catering to an estimated 160 000 residents.
The hospital has also expanded its laboratory diagnostic capacity, eliminating the need for patients to rely on private laboratories.
“We have managed to equip our laboratory to conduct a number of tests required by clinicians in the district. We are currently carrying out biochemistry tests that were previously unavailable in the district,” Dr Muungani said.
New biochemistry services include kidney and liver function tests, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening and glycated haemoglobin tests for diabetes management. Expanded microbiology services now allow culture testing of blood, urine and stool samples.
“We used to refer patients to the private sector for these tests, but we are now offering them at the district hospital,” he said.
HSC Deputy Chairperson Dr Rugare Kangwende praised staff for sustaining service delivery despite manpower shortages.
“We were particularly impressed by the work they are doing under difficult conditions without adequate staff. For the past six months, there has not been a single maternal death in the district,” she said.
Following inspections of wards and laboratories, as well as engagements with personnel, Dr Kangwende said the Commission would address administrative grievances directly and escalate policy-level challenges to relevant stakeholders.
“Some of the issues are easy to solve, while others are of a policy nature. As a Commission, we will consider each issue, engage the relevant stakeholders and work towards resolving them,” she said.
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