Story by Tichaona Kurewa
CONSTRUCTION of a mothers’ waiting shelter at St Luke’s Hospital in Lupane, Matabeleland North Province, is progressing steadily and is expected to improve access to maternal healthcare services for expectant mothers from across the region.
The project forms part of Zimbabwe’s broader efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality through investments in healthcare infrastructure, including the establishment of mothers’ waiting shelters at health institutions.
Such facilities provide accommodation for pregnant women, particularly those travelling from remote communities, allowing them to remain close to healthcare services as they approach delivery.
Expectant mothers have welcomed the development, saying it will improve comfort, safety and access to care during the final stages of pregnancy.
“The new mothers’ shelter will bring us great comfort and dignity. The spacious rooms, clean bathrooms and well-equipped kitchen will make our waiting period much safer and more pleasant,” an expecting mother said.
“We are grateful for this beautiful shelter. Having modern facilities and a secure place to stay near the hospital will reduce our worries as we prepare for childbirth,” a beneficiary said.
“The playground is a wonderful addition during this period, while the kitchen and bathrooms provide convenience and promote hygiene. This shelter will truly meet the needs of mothers and their families,” a mother said.
The project has received more than US$300 000 in funding through support from the Ubuntu Africa Project and is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
Hospital authorities say the facility will significantly expand accommodation capacity and improve access to care for expectant mothers, particularly those referred from previously underserved areas.
“This facility is going to help reduce maternal deaths because it will accommodate more women than we could previously serve due to limited space. More expectant mothers will now be able to stay closer to the hospital, enabling healthcare workers to attend to them promptly whenever the need arises,” Acting Medical Superintendent at St Luke’s Hospital, Dr Sympathy Moyo said.
The new shelter will accommodate about 200 mothers and complement the existing facility, which has a capacity of 80 but is currently housing close to 300 women.
St Luke’s Hospital serves communities in Matabeleland North Province as well as parts of the Midlands and Bulawayo Metropolitan provinces. Health officials say the additional accommodation will ease pressure on existing facilities while strengthening access to maternal healthcare services.
