Kitwe records 20 maternal deaths in 2017

KITWE Central Hospital (KCH) recorded 20 maternal deaths in the year 2017.

KCH clinical care officer Abidan Chansa, who disclosed the development to ZANIS yesterday, said the victims included adolescents and fully grown up women.

Responding to a ZANIS press in Kitwe, Dr Chansa said Kitwe district had the highest cases with 19 victims while a referral case from Mufulira brought the total number of deaths to 20.

“The major causes of these deaths were bleeding complications, high blood pressure, disorders of the pregnancy, maternal infections, unsafe abortions, shortage of skilled staff and shortage of equipment to use in dealing with complicated pregnancies among others,” Dr Chansa explained.

He said due to the deaths recorded, KCH had intensified efforts aimed at reducing preventable maternal deaths.

Dr Chansa said the hospital had taken a lead in the prevention of preventable maternal deaths by supplementing the old measures of reducing maternal deaths this year, through conducting of mentorship and supporting health promotion campaigns in safe motherhood, adolescent health, and maternal health.

He added that the district would also continue to employ more midwives especially at the Kitwe Teaching Hospital because of the many complicated cases it receives from other nearby districts. - ZANIS