By TAMARY CHIKIWA
MATERNAL mortality ratio in Zimbabwe has dropped following United Nations (UN) intervention, a latest report reveals.
In the report, the UN said the maternal mortality ratio decreased from 614 per 100 000 live births in 2014 to 462 per 100 000 live births in 2021.
“The decrease is attributable to the procurement of essential equipment to deliver reproductive, maternal, new-born and child health services and enhanced maternal death surveillance,” read the report.
The UN said the number of health facilities charging user fees for maternal and child health service in the country had also dropped courtesy of its injection of funds.
“Health facilities charging user fees for maternal and child health services dropped from seven percent in 2015 to two percent in 2021 following UN’s financial investment via the Results Based Financing,” read the report.
The UN said at least 99 percent health facilities have functional cold chain equipment through procurement and logistics support.
Meanwhile, the UN said its partners provided technical support for the development of a policy on social inclusion and protection of women.
“UN worked on the contribution to the removal of barriers to access social protection services for the most vulnerable and formulating system wide coherent policies and systems that create a conducive and sustainable environment for the delivery of social services,” the report further read. – Daily News