No woman should die while giving birth and no child should die while being born, says Professor Elywn Chomba. Alliance for Community Action in Zambia (Alliance Zambia) country director Jillian Johannsen says a lot of pregnant women die due to delayed community responses to health risks.
Speaking during the National Dissemination Workshop on Maternal Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) at the Southern Sun Hotel on Thursday October 13th, Prof. Chomba who is permanent secretary in the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health, said Zambia is faced with a number of challenges related to HIV/AIDS and child issues.
“When immunity is suppressed, higher risks occur during pregnancy which also includes higher risks of complications during childbirth. This increases the chances of women dying from indirect causes during and after pregnancy such as tuberculosis. It is with this background that we should remain united and say that no woman should die when giving birth, and that no child should die while being born,” Prof Chomba said.
She said by focusing on the reduction of maternal mortality and by ensuring safe motherhood, Zambia will be contributing to the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) four and five. “By integrating HIV, TB and Malaria; we shall also tackle MDG six. I must mention too that the addition of the mother and child health component to the Ministry of Community Development could not have come at a better time; just when the health sector and developmental community players are focusing attention on maternal and child health,” she said.
Prof Chomba said she was happy that Alliance Zambia has been implementing the MNCH project in Chazanga, Chongwe and Chikankata areas for the last year.
She said Zambia was faced with a number of challenges related to HIV/AIDS, orphans and vulnerable children, and maternal neonatal and health issues.
“It is in this regard that my ministry values its strong relationship with this dynamic network organization Alliance Zambia which supports and empowers civil society organizations in Zambia to address the welfare of vulnerable people,” Prof Chomba said.
And Johannsen said that there was a poor understanding of the linkages between HIV and maternal mortality. “Linkages between HIV/AIDS and maternal child heath are poorly understood. We need to promote interactions and create programmes to make people understand the linkages between maternal child health and HIV,” Johannsen said.
She added that the main driver of maternal mortality was delays in getting pregnant women to access health facilities. “As [Alliance Zambia] we are committed to supporting Zambians to have a quick response and improved access to medical facilities,” she said.
Alliance Zambia Policy and Partnership Coordinator Lucia Mvula says there is need to create a strong civil society platform to help the community understand the issues of maternal and sexual reproductive health issues.
- Proffessor Elywn Chomba the Permanet secretary in Zambia's Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health during the National Dissemination Workshop on maternal, neo-natal and child health at the Southern Sun Hotel organised by Alliance Zambia
- International AIDS Alliance Zambian Country director Jillian Johannsen at the Soutnern Sun Hotel in Lusaka on Thursday