Traditional myths a health challenge
Katete, June 6, 2013, ZANIS……A medical practitioner in Katete district
says the Ministry of Health continues to face a challenge in
the provision of postnatal and full immunization services in the
district.
Katete urban clinic sister in-charge Juliana Phiri said this was due
to traditional myths that surround child birth especially in villages.
Ms Phiri explained that some traditional myths prevent women from accessing
postnatal services because they believed that babies should not be taken out of
the house until they are over a month old.
ZANIS reports that Ms Phiri said a number of women were reluctant to
take their babies to the clinic for fear that taking them out of the
house before they are a one month old would bring bad luck.
She however stated that health personnel at the clinic were
sensitizing people in Katete district on the benefits of taking their
infants for postnatal services.
And speaking on the immunization, Ms Phiri said the health facilities
did not always have all the drugs to conduct full immunization on
under five children.
Ms Phiri said there was need to ensure that all the drugs required for
immunization were available at health facilities.
She also commended the World Bank for its support to the clinic through
the Result Based Finance saying the clinic was able to use the
resources under the programme to improve health service delivery to
the local community.
The sister in-charge said the health facility was able to rehabilitate
the clinic and procure medical equipment from the funds that were
received under the Result Based Finance Programme.
Last year, Katete urban clinic received KR166, 830 for various activities
among them motivating health staff and encouraging women to deliver at
the health facility aimed at improving health service delivery.