Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
HIGH maternal mortality rate has left a devastating gap, with far too many infants facing a desperate struggle to survive, prompting local organisation, Windows of Hope to step in to save lives.
Partnering with Government, the organisation is providing life-saving milk formula to vulnerable babies across Manicaland.
The maternal mortality ratio stands at 462 deaths per 100 000 live births, with Manicaland bearing a disproportionate burden.
About 111 cases per 100 000 births were recorded in the province during the first half of 2022.
Windows of Hope is on a mission to nourish the most vulnerable, supporting infants orphaned or separated from their mothers due to illness.
The programme manager, Mr Darlington Chikamhi said they are committed to bridging the nutritional gap by supporting infants without a source of nutrition after being orphaned or born to mother whose health conditions do not allow them to breastfeed.
“These high numbers of MMR and IMMR are heart-breaking, and they show just how many babies are left vulnerable. That is what drove us to supply milk formula to these babies for free. We felt the need to step in and provide milk formula for infants who lose their mothers or whose mothers are too ill to breastfeed. Without this support, many of these babies will face severe malnutrition or even death,” he said, adding that since 2024 to date, they have supplied formula concurrently to 100 babies, giving them a chance to grow and thrive despite the hardships their families face.
“We supply milk formula because many mothers are dying, leaving their infants behind with no source of nutrition. The high maternal death rate, coupled with widespread poverty, has left many infants vulnerable, and we receive overwhelming referrals from the Ministry of Public Service and Social Welfare, hospitals, and community caregivers,” he said.
The burden of infant malnutrition is heavy across the country, with Mr Chikamhi explaining that poverty, food insecurity, limited healthcare, and even climate change contributing to this.
“Globally, infant malnutrition is a significant issue, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Infant malnutrition is a complex issue with far-reaching consequences in Southern Africa and Zimbabwe is not spared.
‘‘While progress has been made in some areas, significant challenges remain, and the need for nutritional support is widespread. Poverty, food insecurity, poor maternal nutrition, limited healthcare access, and climate change impacts are major challenges faced by communities,” he said.
A study published in the journal Public Health Nutrition in 2023, identified Manicaland as most affected by various forms of childhood malnutrition, including the highest prevalence of stunting at 31,2 percent, acute malnutrition, 0,53 percent, severe acute malnutrition 0,5 percent, and overweight cases 4,5 percent in the country.
“Infant malnutrition is a complex issue with far-reaching consequences. While progress has been made in some areas, the need for nutritional support is still widespread, which is why we came in,” he said.
Mr Chikamhi said Covid-19 worsened the situation, with healthcare disruptions and rising poverty levels making it even harder for families to provide adequate nutrition for their children.
“We work closely with community health workers, church volunteers, and social services to identify families in need. Health workers conduct home visits and regular check-ups, assessing babies using measurements like weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height to determine their nutritional status,” he said.
Mr Chikamhi said their support goes beyond just formula as they empower the families with malnourished babies to break free from the cycle of poverty.
“In the future, we want to empower the babies’ caregivers to start income-generating activities for long-term sustainability because our support goes beyond just support. Every baby deserves a chance to survive and thrive. With more funding and community involvement, we can save even more lives and build a healthier future for Manicaland,” he said.
For the likes of the Semwayo family in Mutare, the programme has been a lifeline.
Mr Moses Semwayo, who is taking care of his late sister’s eight-month-old baby said he has been receiving the free milk formula since his sister’s death in November last year.
“When my sister passed on, I did not know what to do because her son was still five-months-old, and we had no milk for him. We struggled with food insecurity and did not know much about infant development. After receiving formula and learning about nutrition, my nephew’s health has improved. We also started regular health check-ups, which helped us detect illnesses early,” said Mr Semwayo.
Another beneficiary, Ms Tafadzwa Ncube from Chipinge, expressed gratitude for the support she received.
“I was raising my sister’s baby after she passed away, and I had no idea how to feed her properly. Chipinge District Hospital referred me to Windows of Hope. The organisation stepped in at the right time, and today, my niece is healthy and growing up well. I do not know what we would have done without the milk formula,” she said.
