First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has challenged the Ministry
of Health and Child Care to ensure that no woman dies while giving birth.
The First Lady made the call while officiating at the
launch of the 2018 National World Breastfeeding Week here yesterday.
She urged the ministry to ensure that health personnel were
professional and competent and called for stringent measures on any act of
negligence by health personnel.
“We hear cases where most women die while giving birth and
in most cases it’s due to negligence by those who would be assigned to take
care of them in health institutions,” said First Lady Mnangagwa to the cheers
of thousands of women present.
“I call upon the Ministry of Health and Child Care to
devise a law which can be applied to those who are found guilty of negligence.
Let women die of natural causes and not because of child birth.”
Turning to breastfeeding, the First Lady said it was not
only a woman’s issue, but everyone should be involved.
“Breastfeeding is not a woman’s issue, but is for all of us
in all segments of society, from business owners to family members and
Government leaders to citizens,” she said.
“We all need to be involved in safeguarding women’s and
children’s rights to breastfeeding. Success in breastfeeding is not the sole
responsibility of a woman. The protection, promotion and support of
breastfeeding is a collective societal responsibility where everyone has an
obligation to fulfil.
“A woman cannot successfully breastfeed her child when she
is stressed, when she has no suitable food to eat, so men should take the
responsibility of providing a conducive environment for their families.”
First Lady Mnangagwa said societal challenges faced by most
women, including domestic violence, hindered the successful breastfeeding of
children.
She urged women to breastfeed their children adequately,
saying a well breastfed child becomes a healthy child.
“Zimbabwe is a breastfeeding nation with 98 out of every
100 children being breastfed at some point in their lives. However, we still
have some loose ends, which need to be strengthened when it comes to observing
breastfeeding recommendations for optimum results,” she said.
“Sixty-one out of 100 children are exclusively breastfed,
meaning they are given breast milk only up to the age of six months. Only 11
out of a 100 children are breastfed up to the recommended two years.
“Vanamai vazhinji vachiri kuyamwisa kwe18 months dzataikurudzira
dziya, asi izvezvi tave kuti mwana ngaayamwe kwe two years kuti pfungwa
dzinyatsovhurike uye akure aine hutano hwakanaka.”
First Lady Mnangagwa said this year’s commemorations were
aimed at highlighting the huge benefits that breastfeeding can bring to the
health and welfare of children, as well as a wider push for maternal health,
focusing on good nutrition, poverty reduction and food security.
“This year’s World Breastfeeding Week theme ‘Breastfeeding
Foundation of Life’ means that breastfeeding is a universal solution that
levels the playing field, giving everyone a fair start in life,” she said.
“It provides a foundation for everyone’s health, well-being
and survival.”
In 2016, the United Nations placed nutrition at the heart
of sustainable development by declaring 2016 to 2025 as the UN Decade for
Action on Nutrition. Herald
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