In Zimbabwe, the harrowing cost of motherhood due to insufficient healthcare access is becoming an increasingly prominent issue. Despite national policies prioritizing maternal health, many pregnant women, particularly in rural areas, face significant challenges in accessing necessary care. This crisis is further compounded by the country’s economic struggles and inadequate healthcare funding, highlighting a systemic failure to protect maternal health effectively.
Kudzai Matanga’s ordeal in 2018 exemplifies the dire circumstances faced by many expectant mothers in Zimbabwe. Living in Arcturus, a mining village some 32 km from Harare, Matanga’s attempt to reach a healthcare facility while in labor underscores the accessibility issues that plague the rural healthcare system. After failing to secure transportation and enduring labor pains for hours at a bus stop, she was forced to return home and deliver her baby alone, without medical assistance or sanitary conditions, an experience far too common in these communities.
Matanga’s story is not an isolated incident but a reflection of a widespread issue affecting many rural areas in Zimbabwe. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reports that the majority of births in rural regions are not attended by skilled health providers, leading to increased risks during childbirth. About 65% of births in Zimbabwe occur in health facilities, yet this statistic masks the disparities between urban and rural healthcare access. In rural areas, home births are three times more likely than in urban settings, often out of necessity rather than choice.
The challenges extend beyond just accessibility. The Zimbabwean healthcare system suffers from chronic underfunding, with government health expenditure per capita sharply declining from US$51.12 in 2018 to just US$11.07 in 2020. This underfunding has severe implications for maternal health services, which are often the first to suffer in resource-constrained environments. The lack of nearby healthcare facilities, coupled with poor infrastructure such as unmaintained roads and collapsed bridges, further impedes access to essential prenatal and emergency obstetric care.
The plight of rural mothers like Matanga is exacerbated by the economic and logistical barriers to obtaining official documentation for home births. Many children born under such circumstances struggle to obtain birth certificates, complicating their access to health services, education, and later, employment. This bureaucratic challenge adds another layer of disadvantage, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and marginalization.
Addressing these issues requires a robust governmental response and substantial international support. In 2023, the Zimbabwean government initiated the Health Resilience Fund (HRF), aimed at bolstering the country’s health system and advancing towards universal health coverage. This fund, part of a broader National Health Strategy for 2021-2025, focuses on eradicating preventable deaths among mothers and children and strengthening health system resilience. However, the success of such initiatives remains to be seen, especially in light of Zimbabwe’s failure to meet the Abuja Declaration’s target of allocating at least 15% of its annual budget to health care.
The crisis of maternal health care in Zimbabwe is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach involving improved healthcare funding, infrastructure development, and better access to maternal health services. It also necessitates a shift in governmental priorities to ensure that the health of mothers and children is safeguarded as a fundamental right, not a privilege. As the country moves towards its goals of improved health for all, it must ensure that rural mothers like Matanga are no longer left behind, facing life-threatening risks in isolation and without support. The international community, along with local stakeholders, must work collaboratively to address these systemic issues and ensure that every mother in Zimbabwe has access to the safe, respectful, and competent care they deserve.
Source: Newsday
