Due to the heightened shortage of maternity wards at a local clinic, Somabhula villagers recently pooled their resources for the construction of a shelter for pregnant women.
With financial support from the International Organisation for Migration, the locals were able to mould bricks and together they managed to raise $1000 worth of local resources such as sand and quarry stones.
‘’After realising that home and roadside delivery cases were getting higher and higher, we decided to build this maternity shelter,” said Basel Chaza, a member of the Vungu community.
He said local clinic staff joined hands with residents in the project. A ground-breaking ceremony was held in June and attended by major stakeholders, including Vungu Rural District Council, an International Organization for Migration representative and several traditional leaders.
The mother`s shelter, which health staff described as a first of its kind in the Midlands province, comprises two four bedded wards, a three bed nursery, a labor ward and a rest room.
The councilor for the area, Emily Moyo, said the distance between homes and their health centre was making it difficult for pregnant women to give birth under skilled supervision.
“I hope this noble gesture will go a long way in bringing down the number of home deliveries,” said Moyo.