The Copperbelt Province recorded 101 maternal deaths in 2024, marking an increase from the 98 deaths reported in 2023.
Health authorities have attributed the rise to long distances to healthcare facilities, lack of essential medical equipment, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure.
For women in rural areas, reliance on traditional treatments and late reporting of pregnancies have further compounded the issue, resulting in preventable fatalities.
Speaking during a maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response meeting, Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo, who chairs the committee, described the rising maternal deaths as unacceptable adding that no mother deserves to lose her life while giving birth.
Mr. Matambo emphasized the government’s commitment to improving maternal healthcare, highlighting plans to construct and equip maternity annexes across the province.
He urged the provincial health office to prioritize operationalizing these facilities to provide timely and effective services for expectant mothers.
District commissioners across the province also expressed concern over the lack of transportation, particularly ambulances, which they cited as a significant barrier to accessing timely medical care.
By Lovemore Sondashi
