EXEPECTANT mothers have called on government to address the concerns of striking doctors amid fears that high-risk pregnancies could result in infant and maternal mortality.
A pregnant woman, Chipo Mafukidze, told Zim Morning Post that government should consider the risks of doctors leaving their duty posts, even for half an hour, as deaths and pregnancy complications were likely to result from such occurrences.
“The government should do something so as to enable doctors to resume work. I, for example, was scheduled for an operation yesterday but was told it had been cancelled. I was not even given another date for the cesarean. I now fear for my life and that of my unborn baby, because I am already overdue as it is.” lamented Chipo Mafukidze, a pregnant woman booked at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
“I was referred to Parirenyatwa Hospital due to complications with the umbilical cord. I need close monitoring by doctors but with the current situation, I am no longer certain if I will give birth to this baby or if I am safe at all,” said another pregnant woman, Alice Mutake, from Mufakose, Harare.
Another pregnant woman from Mutare, who preferred anonymity and also declined to name the clinic where she was registered, said she was supposed to go for an antenatal checkup yesterday but was told to go back home by an intern nurse, saying doctors would only return after a pay rise.
“I was sent home on Monday (yesterday) without being examined. The interns told me that doctors would only come back for work after a pay rise,” she said.
Observers say situation in medical institutions demands an urgent response by government as patients are likely to die due on lack of medical attention, with infant and maternal mortality escalating.
Doctors on Monday demonstrated over the abduction of ZHDA acting president Peter Magombeyi. They have vowed not to go back to work until he has been released and their salaries increased.
Government has launched a search squad to ascertain the whereabouts of the union leader.