08 Apr 2025

Health personnel have been urged to provide the highest level of professional services to expectant mothers to ensure safe deliveries and reduce the risks of maternal mortality.

Speaking during the World Health Day commemoration on Monday in Gaborone, Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Lawrence Ookeditse said while maternal mortality was largely preventable, it continued to claim the lives of women, particularly during childbirth.

He therefore called on health workers to not only perform their duties diligently, but to ensure they do so with perfection and commitment. “Maternal mortality is a tragedy that can be avoided, yet it persists, I urge all health personnel to provide the best care possible,” Mr Ookeditse stated.

He said though the working conditions could be difficult and unappreciated, the health and lives of Batswana mothers depended on the services they provide. While the assistant minister acknowledged challenges faced by healthcare workers, including long hours and limited resources, he stressed the importance of perseverance and dedication in delivering quality care.

“Even though you may sometimes feel undervalued, I ask that you serve with love and dedication, as your work is crucial for the well-being of our nation,” he said. Nevertheless, Mr Ookeditse extended gratitude to the health personnel for their unwavering commitment to reducing maternal mortality rates in the country. He recognised their hard work and significant role they played in ensuring safer deliveries for expectant mothers.

Giving an overview, Maternal health consultant, Dr Morrison Sinvula, cited delays in seeking healthcare, reaching healthcare facilities, and receiving quality care as key factors contributing to maternal mortality in Botswana. He said several barriers prevented women from accessing timely healthcare, included fear, cultural norms, and a lack of awareness. “In many cases, women are hesitant to seek medical care due to cultural expectations or fear of judgment,” he said.

Dr Sinvula also said challenges such as distance, poor road infrastructure, and transportation difficulties, could turn what could turn be manageable complication into a fatal outcome. “When women cannot access healthcare due to these barriers, it exacerbates the situation and leads to preventable deaths,” he added.

He said delays in receiving quality care in healthcare facilities, often due to overburdened systems and resource shortages were a significant contributor to maternal mortality. Dr Sinvula said maternal mortality was preventable, emphasising that timely interventions were crucial, as delays in care could lead to tragic outcomes.

He outlined some of the leading causes of maternal deaths, including postpartum hemorrhage (excessive bleeding after childbirth), which accounted for 30 per cent of maternal deaths. He said hypertensive disorders, were responsible for 15 per cent of deaths, while infections like sepsis contributed to 12 per cent of maternal fatalities.

Despite the challenges, Dr Sinvula acknowledged that Botswana made significant strides in improving maternal health over the past four decades. “In 1980, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in Botswana was 400 deaths per 100 000 live births,” he stated.

However, thanks to strategic interventions such as the introduction of free maternal health services, increased antenatal care, and improved emergency response systems, the MMR has significantly decreased to 127 per 100 000 live births by 2015.

While progress had been made, Dr Sinvula cautioned that improvements had not been consistent, adding that between 2016 and 2019, maternal mortality stagnated at 144 per 100 000 live births. He further said the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic further reversed those gains, pushing the MMR back up to 240 per 100 000 live births in 2021.

He urged the government, healthcare workers, and the community to take further action to address maternal mortality. He called for continued support of community health workers, who play an essential role at the grassroots level in connecting families with the healthcare system.

“Community health workers are the hands that comfort, the voices that educate, and the guardians of maternal well-being. Their work in early detection, prenatal guidance, and emergency preparedness must be recognised, reinforced, and resourced to battle maternal mortality.” ENDS