New maternity care and staff house for Chirezdana

In rural Chirezdana, in south-eastern Zimbabwe, the infrastructure project of the local health center can be expanded this year with the support of the Liechtensteiner Fastenopfer. Thanks to a maternity waiting home (MWH), pregnant women who need medical help quickly shortly before or after giving birth can be accommodated at short notice. This is important because the roads are long and difficult to pass after the rainy season. On the other hand, the building is also intended to house the staff, as the current accommodation is overcrowded and in a desolate state. Unfortunately, most of the existing houses were destroyed by cyclones. Good staff houses are important to ensure that health professionals remain in rural areas.

Over the past three months, the designs have been approved and local resources have been organized. Cement has been purchased and the foundations have been laid. An outdoor kitchen and bathroom are also planned, as well as an expansion of the water supply system. The local population is also involved. Around 500 births take place at the health center every year - the new maternity waiting home is a great relief for mothers in remote areas. It enables more births to take place under medical care.