Africa, Zimbabwe

The Health Ministry in Zimbabwe is being sued over the increasing maternal deaths as a result of the closure of municipal clinics.

The country’s health system has been in dire stress following the closure of municipal clinics in July coupled with nurses also going on strike as they demanded better working conditions and remuneration.
Due to the closure of municipal clinics many expecting mothers have had to resort to home births which are very dangerous. Moreover,  home births have been the leading cause of maternal and perinatal deaths in Zimbabwe

In the application filed before the High Court, Combined Greater Harare Rate Payers Residents and Tenants Association, Melody Mapani, Aurage Katumbe are the applicants, while the City of Harare, Local Government minister July Moyo, Vice President, and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga and Finance minister Mthuli Ncube were cited as the respondents.

The application has been filed by Tonderai Bhatasara of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

This development comes after Mapani, Katumbe and several other women reportedly lost their babies after they failed to access medical attention in time as the municipal clinics were closed.

“There are also credible reports made to the first applicant of the other women who lost their babies in circumstances such as the second applicant delivering at under risky conditions as clinics are closed,” reads part of the application.

In their application, the applicants also argue that the closure and failure of health facilities to offer medical services is a constitutional infringement on the right to health as such they want the city council to open all its 42 clinics to the public by October 1.
“The conduct of the respondents is a violation of the rights of applicants and residents to the right to health as provided in section 76 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” reads part of the application.

In their application, they urged the health ministry to ensure that before October 1 they are enough clinics open offering emergency medical treatment, especially to pregnant women.

The respondents are yet to respond to the allegations.

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Author: FACE OF MALAWI