UNFPA praises Zambia

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has praised the Zambian government for reducing maternal mortality from 591 per 100,000 live births in 2007 to 398 per 100,000 live births in 2013.

UNFPA Deputy Country representative Chinwe Ogbonna said the reduction in maternal mortality rate is an indication of government’s commitment to addressing maternal mortality challenges in the Country.

Ms. Ogbonna noted that government has registered positive strides in the improvement of antenatal care, health facility delivery, skilled attendance and contraceptive prevalence rate.

She was speaking at the training workshop for data collectors, supervisors, coordinators and mentors in Lusaka today.

She has since urged government to sustain the gains achieved through intensified efforts to further improve sexual reproductive health among the women.

And speaking at the same function, Community Development, Mother and Child Health Deputy Minister Ingrid Mphande said government has continued working hard in a bid to reduce maternal mortality ratio.

Ms. Mphande said government’s tireless efforts have resulted in the reduction of maternal mortality rate.

She said despite the country registering positive results in sexual reproductive health, more work still needed to be done.

Ms. Mphande cited inadequate skilled birth attendants and health equipment as some of the challenges contributing to mortality morbidities such as fistula.