Dark day for women’s health

◆

Mr Chiruka said Ms Muchichwa had earlier been transferred from two other midwives, with both of them failing to deliver her baby.

He said by the time they embarked on the journey to hospital, his sister’s unborn baby was already lifeless, with its hand and the umbilical cord protruding.

“I consulted her husband on the way forward and he agreed to have her taken to hospital. My other sister, Sarah, accompanied us.

“Jane was writhing in pain and crying out for help. After driving for about 7km on our way to the hospital, she died. I immediately called her husband, informing him of the situation and he advised us to drive back to his homestead. Police later arrived and ferried the body to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital,” said Mr Chiruka.

He said it was sad and painful to lose his sister under such circumstances, adding that her life could have been saved had she received medical attention much earlier.

“Her death could have been avoided if she was taken to the hospital when she developed those complications.

‘‘By the moment they transferred her to the third midwife without any success in delivering her baby, they should have realised that her condition required medical attention without any further delays. Her life could have been saved if she had been taken to hospital much earlier,” said Mr Chiruka.

Ms Muchichwa was buried last week on Friday in Mafararikwa Village after the post-mortem fetal extrusion process was carried out at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital to separate the unborn baby from its dead mother.

Mafararikwa Village Head, Mr Crispen Mafararikwa was among the mourners who paid their last respects to Ms Muchichwa.

He said Ms Muchichwa was not accorded the usual rites members of the Johane Marange Apostolic Church get when they are laid to rest as she was taken to hospital in violation of the church’s religious beliefs.