Maternal mortality rate slows down
By Mary Kachepa
The Ministry of Health says deaths due to complications from pregnancy or childbirth have reduced to 187 per 100,000 live births in 2024.
This is down from 278 per 100,000 live births in the last five years.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary in charge of Technical Services, Kennedy Lishimpi, says the neonatal mortality rate has also gone down.
Dr. Lishimpi says the reduction shows that all the policies and strategies that the government is putting in place are beginning to yield results.
Dr. Lishimpi says the Ministry of Health is happy that the Christmas babies that have been born so far have a very good weight, which means that the policy of ensuring the nutrition of pregnant women is being adhered to.
He was speaking after he presented hampers to Christmas babies at Chilenje Level One Hospital in Lusaka today.
Lusaka Mayor, Chilando Chitangala, presented the hampers together with Dr. Lishimpi.
Meanwhile, Chilenje Level One Hospital Nursing Officer, Matildah Mbewe, said the facility had recorded nine Christmas babies by 11:00 hours, six girls and three boys.
