Zambezi records milestone in maternal death prevention

Zambezi District in North-western Province has recorded a significant milestone in health delivery after recording zero maternal deaths in the first and second quarters of 2026, compared to seven cases recorded during the same period in 2025. Speaking in an interview with the…

Zambezi District in North-western Province has recorded a significant milestone in health delivery after recording zero maternal deaths in the first and second quarters of 2026, compared to seven cases recorded during the same period in 2025.

Speaking in an interview with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) today, Zambezi District Health Director (DHD), Digani Daka, attributed the success to lessons learnt from previous challenges, enhanced community sensitisation and strong partnerships with the traditional leadership.

Dr Daka disclosed that during the first quarter of 2025, the district suffered seven maternal deaths, a situation largely compounded by severe geographical barriers, cultural misconceptions and home deliveries.

He explained that Zambezi district faces annual flooding, which cuts off the West Bank for over six months, rendering roads inaccessible during the rainy season, resulting in expectant mothers often forced to travel long distances using ox-carts, which can take up to three days to reach the nearest referral centre.

The District Health Director further cited late antenatal booking and deeply entrenched cultural myths as major contributors to the deaths recorded last year.

“Many mothers in our communities delay booking their pregnancies early. Antenatal care allows healthcare workers to screen for pre-existing conditions, offer guidelines, and monitor both the mother and the unborn child. Pregnancy naturally elevates risk, so early clinical intervention is vital,” he stressed.

Dr Daka added that when complications such as severe bleeding occurred at home, families often associated the condition with witchcraft, delaying medical intervention until it was too late.

To reverse the trend, the District Health Office deployed a multifactorial strategy focused on community engagement, chiefdom-by-chiefdom outreach and the active involvement of traditional leaders.

“Through a coordinated approach, we engaged our Royal Highnesses and village headmen across all chiefdoms to lead the campaign against home deliveries and late antenatal bookings. Their voices have been instrumental in dispelling myths and encouraging early health-seeking behavior,” he said.

In addition to traditional advocacy, the district strengthened early referral systems and maternal waiting shelters across health facilities, ensuring high-risk mothers from hard-to-reach areas, particularly, the West Bank are admitted prior to their expected delivery dates before floods set in.

Dr Daka reiterated government’s commitment to ending preventable maternal deaths, emphasising that healthcare facilities across Zambezi district remain equipped and ready to provide safe delivery services to all expectant mothers.