An Information bulletin of the WCO Zimbabwe Vol. 5, June 2010

1. HEALTH HARARE
An Information bulletin of the WCO Zimbabwe Vol. 5, June 2010
Zimbabwe launches the campaign for accelerated
reduction of maternal mortality in Africa (CARMMA)
30 June 2010, Chivi—Masvingo. Zimbabwe launched the country version of the Campaign for Accelerated
Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa ( CARMMA ) on 30th June 2010 under the theme “ Zimbabwe Ca-
res, No Woman should Die While Giving Life. ” The CARMMA was officially launched by the Deputy Prime
Minister of Zimbabwe, Honourable Thokozani Khupe at a function which was held at Chivi District Hospital in
Masvingo Province. The Deputy Prime Minister, Honour
able Thokozani Khupe was named as the CARMMA
Goodwill Ambassador in a move that is aimed at lobbying
for political support in reducing maternal mortality. The
Deputy Prime Minister, who is an advocate of note for
women ’ s rights, said she is honoured to be a goodwill
ambassador and pledged to lobby political will for
women ’ s health. The official launch of the Campaign on
Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality
( C ARMMA ) in Zimbabwe has come at the right time
because Zimbabwe aims to reduce maternal mortality by
about 75% if it is to achieve the Millennium Development
Goals ( MDGs ) by 2015 . Currently maternal mortality
ratios are estimated to be 725 deaths per 100,000 live
births ( Zimbabwe Maternal and Perinatal Mortality Study,
2006 ) and safe motherhood is far from being assured.
The country has joined many countries of the African Un-
ion to launch this campaign in order to raise awareness
on the problem of maternal deaths and advocate for com-
mitment to action in order to accelerate progress towards
achieving the Millennium Development Goal on maternal The CARMMA banner with the slogan
health. CARMMA provides a platform for a renewed vision
and commitment.

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In her speech, the Deputy Prime Minister said
the success of this campaign relies on commit-
ment and support from everybody. She said the
reduction of maternal mortality is very important
because if it is reduced then it acts as a catalyst
for the reduction of other indicators like child
mortality, which are unacceptably high. “ We
need to invest heavily in women because a
great chunk of the world ’ s GDP comes from
the unpaid work of women, ” said Khupe. She Deputy Prime Minister Khupe making her launching speech
also said that family planning services are a right
for every Zimbabwean woman and urged the
Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to avail
these services to all women and girls so that
they make informed decisions.
Honorable Khupe encouraged pregnant women
to present early at health facilities to avoid loss
of life in cases of complications. She congratu-
lated the pregnant women who were in the ma- Pregnant women wearing T – shirts with a message - My responsibility: I
deliver in a health facility
ternity waiting home at Chivi district hospital for
ensuring that they deliver their babies in a health
facility.
She identified financial constraints as one of the
contributors to the delay in seeking and access-
ing appropriate health care, and urged the gov-
ernment to look for other forms of health financ-
ing and make health affordable to all women in
Zimbabwe.
Some of the pregnant women awaiting delivery in the maternity waiting

3. The Deputy Prime Minister also pledged to lobby for
hospitals and all health facilities to have uninter-
rupted power and water supplies, and urged every-
body to donate blood to boost our blood bank so
that it is always available for women in need.
In his remarks, the Honourable Minister of Health
and Child Welfare, Dr Henry Madzorera said the
launch was just the start of a campaign that will run
for the next 5 years and urged everybody to work
together to reduce maternal mortality. “ This is only The Honourable Minister of Health and Child Welfare , Dr H.
a launch for a 5 year program and we need to pool Madzorera making his remarks
our resources and ensure that no woman dies while
giving life, because Zimbabwe cares, ” said
Madzorera. He lamented the high ratios of maternal
and children under 5 mortality and said that CAR-
MMA “ will change our course as a nation. ”
Dr Madzorera urged all pregnant women to deliver
in a health facility and protect theirs and their chil-
dren ’ s lives. He said presenting late is one of the
causes of high maternal mortality, a situation he
said could be avoided if women made use of the
maternity waiting homes at district hospitals. He
WHO Representative Dr C. Mandlhate speaking on behalf of the
said that his ministry of health and child welfare will
UN in Zimbabwe
undertake to strengthen information, communication
and transport services in all issues of maternal
health. He also said they will revitalise all maternity
waiting homes in all hospitals, and acknowledged
the support from partners and donors in this exer-
cise. UNFPA donated beds and bedding to refurbish
the maternity waiting home at Chivi district hospital,
where expectant mothers were sleeping on the
floor.
In a speech read on behalf of the UN in Zimbabwe
by WHO Representative Dr Mandlhate on behalf of Village health workers from Chivi district singing a song

4. HEALTH HARARE Page 4
the Resident Coordinator, the UN congratulated
the government of Zimbabwe and the Ministry of
Health and Child Welfare for their commitment
towards improving the health of the people of Zim-
babwe, and in particular, maternal and neonatal
health, through the launching of this African Un-
ion initiative.
Dr Mandlhate echoed the Honorable Minister ’ s
statement saying that the launch was just the be-
ginning of the campaign. She said, “ today ’ s
Baba naMai Charamba and the Fishers of Men performing the CARMMA
launch marks the beginning of accelerated imple-
theme song they produced
mentation of the Zimbabwe Maternal and Neona-
tal Roadmap. The campaign should however not
end with this launch alone. Follow up activities
need to be implemented in order to realize impact
on reducing maternal and neonatal deaths. “
She also said that improving maternal health and
reducing neonatal mortality is not a standalone
agenda as this is tied to many factors including
economic development, gender equality and so-
cial interactions, the welfare of young people, HIV
prevention, family planning and health systems
strengthening among others and the Ministry of
Health and Child Welfare alone can not address The Deputy Prime Minister presenting a gift to one of the pregnant
women staying in the maternity waiting home at Chivi hospital
all the determinant factors. She stated that UN
agencies especially UNFPA, UNICEF, UNAIDS
and ( WHO ) were working in collaboration with
the Government in implementing several initiatives
on maternal, neonatal and child health in the
country. She said the UN was fully committed to
providing both financial and technical support for
accelerating actions towards the attainment of the
Millennium Development Goals. “ We all have a
role to play. I do hereby call upon all stakeholders
to raise their stake in support towards reduction of
maternal mortality, ” said Dr Mandlhate.
Honourable Khupe holding the CARMMA sculpture presented to her

5. Students from Chivi High School entertained the crowd with songs Dr Mandlhate receiving her CARMMA sculpture
Honorable Khupe, Dr Madzorera and Dr Mandlhate dancing to the Members of the UN country team and other partners pose for a photo
theme song with the Honorable Khupe and Dr Madzorera
For more information contact:
Wendy JULIAS
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
juliasw@zw.afro.who.int