The Sunday Mail
Muchaneta Chimuka
For New Mabvuku resident Princess Machona (23), giving birth was a near-death experience.
On September 16, she began to experience excruciating labour pains and was taken to a nearby clinic.
However, it did not go as planned as she was turned away.
“I was taken to Mabvuku Clinic by my husband (Simbarashe Mazivangei), mother-in-law and stepfather after I started experiencing labour pains. Upon arrival, I was referred to Edith Opperman Maternity Centre in Mbare by the nurses present since they told me they could not attend to pregnant mothers,” she said.
Due to logistical challenges, she could not go to Mbare, nor could she bribe nurses at the clinic as others had suggested because she was penniless.
She went back home.
But at around 4am the following morning, her labour pains became intense.
As she could no longer sit still and desperately needed fresh air, she went out of the house and strayed into her neighbour’s yard.
Somehow, the unsettled expecting mother missed her step and fell into an 11-metre deep well.
“Up to now I do not really know what happened . . . The water covered my body up to shoulder level. While inside, I gave birth and held the child high in my arms so that he would not drown. Meanwhile, I continued calling for help,” said Machona.
She was eventually rescued after two hours of agony.
“When Amai Jogo (her neighbour) and daughter woke up, that is when they discovered me and they called some neighbours who brought a bucket and razor blade, which I used to cut the umbilical cord . . .
“My child was placed inside a bucket and rescued. I was retrieved from the well. It is only then that I got help from others and was taken to Edith Opperman Maternity Centre, where I was attended to by a male doctor before being transferred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
“There, I was admitted for three days since my blood pressure was high and they wanted to monitor me,” she said.
Her “miracle” baby, Emmanuel, who was born under such trying circumstances, is her second child.
Princess and her husband are both unemployed and live with their mother-in-law, Fortunate Pfende.
“I just thank God they are both alive. The day she fell in the well I had spent the whole evening praying that she can be assisted at our local clinic,” said Pfende, mother to Simbarashe.
Locadia Maisiri of Glen View 1 was not as unfortunate as Princess, but she had a thoroughly unpleasant experience.
After visiting Glen View clinic, she was referred to a private clinic as officials argued they did not have personal protective equipment (PPE).
As her labour pains worsened, she had no option but to seek attention at the private clinic, where they demanded US$120 for their services.
She, however, did not have the money and successfully negotiated for a down payment of US$60.
The outstanding amount was supposed to be settled before she was discharged.
“My husband had to borrow the money to make the down payment although we were not even sure
how we would settle the remainder,” she said.
“I spent three days in their facility after I failed to settle the difference and my bill kept on ballooning until I was rescued by a relative.”
Similarly, Clara Mutasa, who is in her third trimester, is yet to register with her local clinic.
“You need to have at least US$10 to cover for nurses bribes, including that of security guards, every time you visit the clinic, and I cannot afford that.
“Get to the clinics in the morning and see how much chaos will be there. I have since opted for home delivery this time around. At least that way I can manage the costs,” she said.
Women’s Action Group’s executive director Edinah Masiyiwa told The Sunday Mail Society that maternal mortality can only be averted if healthcare services are easily accessible.
“It is quite sad that these women were turned away from the local clinics. This should be addressed timeously in order to avert the death of mothers and their babies during birth.
“We need more health facilities and nurses who are motivated to save lives because unmonitored deliveries have negative consequences,” she said.
According to the latest Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019, Zimbabwe’s maternal mortality rate has dropped to 462 per 100 000 live births from the previous 614 per 100 000 live births recorded in 2014.
Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die during pregnancy and childbirth per 100 000 live births.
UNFPA country representative Dr Esther Muia believes that unmonitored births can cause obstetric fistula to women and girls.
Obstetric fistula is one of the most serious and tragic injuries that occur during childbirth.
It is a hole between the birth canal and rectum and is caused by prolonged or obstructed labour without timely access to emergency obstetric care, notably a caesarean section.
Harare City Council health director Dr Prosper Chonzi said he was optimistic negotiations between council and nurses would lead to a resumption of activities at council-run facilities.
“We have been receiving assistance from partners such as UNICEF, UNFPA and World Health Organisation (WHO) in paying our nurses, but it is not sustainable, hence we have these challenges. Talks are underway and things should normalise soon though,” he said.
*Those who might need to assist Princess can get in touch with her mother-in-law Ms Pfende whose EcoCash number is 0772484627
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