Most expectant mothers delay antennal care - PS

MAJORITY of pregnant mothers in Zambia delay to start going for antenatal care, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for administration Kennedy Malama has said.

Dr Malama noted that most expecting mothers wait until the pregnancy was visible before they would seek antenatal services.

He told the Daily Nation in an interview that delaying antenatal care was risky and one of the major causes of maternal deaths in the country.

Dr Malama has since advised expecting mothers to start going for antenatal care as soon as they suspect they are pregnant.

“In our country many mothers when pregnant, they wouldn’t start antenatal until the pregnancy is big enough to be seen, but our direction and encouragement as Government is that as soon as they are pregnant they should start antenatal,” Dr Malama said.

He added that it was recommended that every pregnant Zambian woman should at least attend eight antenatal visits.

And Dr Malama has thanked the Japanese government for its support towards maternal health in Zambia through the Japanese Organisation for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP).

He project which was implemented on three districts on the Copperbelt, Masaiti, Mpongwe and Lufwanyama was focused on improving women’s health, especially pregnant women.

“We are delighted as Government that this project speaks very well to our aspiration as Government of ensuring that we accelerate progress towards the reduction of maternal, newborn and child illnesses and deaths in the country.

“As you are aware the Government of the Republic of Zambia made a key pronouncement through President Edgar Lungu that maternal mortality in Zambia is a public health emergency in May last year.

“So as a country we need to all it takes to ensure that we eradicate deaths associated with pregnancy in our mothers and also ensure that babies are born healthy,” Dr Malama said.

Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Mizuuchi Ryuta has reassured Zambia of support from the Japanese Government especially in the maternal health sector.