17 Martenal Deaths at Gweru General Hospital in 6 Months

'Why Are We Losing Mothers', MP Asks Health Ministry Over Gweru Hospital Deaths

…As Health Minister Reports 17 Maternal Deaths in Six Months, Citing Equipment and Staffing Challenges

By Delicious Mathuthu

Harare, Zimbabwe - In a recent parliamentary session, Health and Child Care Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora revealed that Gweru Provincial Hospital recorded 17 maternal deaths between January and June 2025, primarily due to pregnancy-related complications.

The disclosure came in response to questions from Mkoba South Member of Parliament, Honourable John Kuka, regarding maternal mortality rates (MMR) and health service delivery in the Midlands Province.

"… why [is] Gweru Provincial Hospital [having] high statistics of maternal deaths as a result of complications during cesarean sections?" Hon. Kuka asked.

Responding, Dr. Mombeshora detailed the causes of the deaths at the facility.

“These deaths were due to hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, with eclampsia accounting for six deaths, infections seven, severe HIV infections two, postpartum haemorrhage with substantial hysterectomy one, and anaesthetic complications one.

"These are the statistics that we have for Gweru Provincial Hospital,” he said.

The Minister also outlined ongoing efforts to enhance health services, including equipment upgrades such as autoclaves, digital X-rays and ultrasound machines to improve service efficiency and early detection of complications.

He also highlighted initiatives to bolster staffing through expanded nurse training programs, noting intense competition for limited slots due to tutor and infrastructure shortages.

“Over 5,000 applicants competed for only 45 nurse training slots at Parirenyatwa Hospital, while 8,000 applied for 30 positions at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital,” Dr. Mombeshora said.

To address regional disparities in training access, the Ministry said it has introduced a quota system, mandating that 50% of nurse trainees come from the district where the training hospital is located.

Additionally, e-learning programs have been implemented in 23 of the country’s 73 nursing schools to expand capacity, he said.

Hon. Kuka had criticized the nurse training recruitment process, highlighting barriers, especially for rural applicants.

“We have a number of children who have been applying for nurse training for years, meeting all the requirements, but failing to get shortlisted," he said.

"… [what] measures [are] being taken by the Government to ensure that individuals who have been applying for nurse training programmes for an extended period and meet the entry requirements are given due consideration and support in their pursuit of a career in nursing," Hon. Kuka asked.

He highlighted that there is a problem
with the recruitment process.

"In those areas where we come from, we have discovered that a number of children tried their opportunity this year and the previous year, but they have failed to get an opportunity.

"What plans has the
Government put in place so that we have those people from rural areas
being recruited for nurse training?" Hon. Kuka asked.

He further emphasized the need for improved medical evacuation services, noting that patients from remote areas like Gokwe or Mberengwa often travel long distances to access specialist care in Harare or Bulawayo.

The Minister, however, reported progress on emergency medical access, citing the operationalization of a national air ambulance service.

“People are being airlifted free of charge,” he stated, adding, “In Harare, more than 1,000 emergency evacuations have been conducted, and in Bulawayo, over 600.

"We continue to strengthen this service to support critical referrals,” he said.

On MMR, the World Health Organization’s Trends in Maternal Mortality report released in 2000–2023, reveals that Zimbabwe’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was 358 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, down from 462 in 2019 and a high of 960 in 2010-2011, per the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS).

The 2023-24 ZDHS, released in March 2025, reported further progress, estimating the MMR at 212 per 100,000 live births.

Despite these improvements, Zimbabwe remains far from the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing maternal deaths to below 70 per 100,000 by 2030.

However, national averages obscure regional disparities.

Estimates show that if Gweru Provincial Hospital managed approximately 3,000 to 4,000 deliveries in the first half of 2025, the 17 maternal deaths translate to an estimated MMR of 425 to 565 per 100,000 live births, significantly higher than the national figures.

Public health experts attribute such disparities to staffing shortages, delayed referrals, limited blood supplies and uneven access to emergency obstetric care, particularly in provincial hospitals such as Gweru Provincial, serving large populations.

The 2024 United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Zimbabwe Annual Report identifies postpartum haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, sepsis, HIV-related complications and anaesthesia issues as leading causes of maternal mortality, consistent with the Gweru data.

While over 85% of births now occur in health facilities, the report notes that quality of care and post-delivery monitoring remain inconsistent.