The struggle for maternal healthcare in rural Zimbabwe is a harsh reality that demands urgent attention.

Women in areas like Zhombe’s Sengwazi area face unimaginable challenges, including walking up to 2.5 kilometres to the nearest clinic,which serves hundreds and has only one bed. When a woman has complications they are transferred to Zhombe Mission Hospital which is kilometers away and there is no ambulance to take them there.

Zimbabwe’s maternal mortality rate decreased from 960 per 100,000 live births in 2010 to 462 in 2019, according to UNICEF. However, rural areas still experience higher maternal and neonatal mortality rates than urban areas, highlighting the need for targeted improvements.

Residents expressed outrage during a Community Voices Zimbabwe (CVZ) and ZIMCODD meeting. “Giving birth shouldn’t burden women,” said one resident. “It’s unfair to put lives at risk. We can do better.”

Reducing maternal mortality is a priority of Sustainable Development Goal 3. Zimbabwe is among Sub-Saharan African countries with high maternal mortality ratios, where women continue to experience significant first, second, and third delays from various controllable factors, such as long distances to the nearest health facility and significant delays in getting transport to referral centers, coupled with human resource and commodity challenges at the referral centres. Efforts to reduce unskilled deliveries at home and ill-equipped primary-care facilities, improve emergency transport, and increase access to the right care should continue.

Alderman Emmanuel Sibanda, Councilor for Ward 9 echoed this sentiment. “Walking long distances to clinics is deplorable, especially for pregnant women. Pregnancy complications can be disastrous for both mother and child. A mobile clinic would alleviate our plight.”

Residents at the meeting were agreeable to the idea of a mobile clinic citing that it was the best way to save the lives of pregnant women.

“A mobile clinic is the way to go. Not only will our women benefit but every sick person will be saved the pain of walking long distances when they are sick.”

Zimbabwe aims to achieve universal health coverage by 2030, as part of Sustainable Development Goal 3. Increasing health budget allocations will therefore be crucial. Collaborative efforts can reduce maternal mortality rates and achieve universal health coverage. The Zimbabwean government and healthcare stakeholders must prioritize rural maternal healthcare. Increasing clinic access, providing more beds, and deploying mobile clinics can alleviate burdens on pregnant women. Concrete steps must ensure no woman endures inadequate maternal healthcare.