Omaheke also gets maternity waiting home
The Omaheke Regional Health Directorate will on Friday inaugurate a new maternity waiting home constructed through funding from the European Union (EU).
The waiting home will be known as 'Lady Pohamba Maternity Waiting Home' after the former First Lady, Penehupifo Pohamba.
The centre is expected to ease the burden faced by expectant mothers as many come from far to be close to health centres for the delivery of their babies.
They will now be accommodated at this centre.
The construction of the centre, which started in 2013, also aims to reduce maternal and child mortality in the region.
The maternity waiting home was funded through the World Health Programme for Accelerating the Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality (PARMaCM).
Launched in February 2013, PARMaCM is a joint partnership between the health ministry, EU and the World Health Organisation.
It has a total budget of about N$132 million.
According to recent PARMaCM statistics, Namibia's infant mortality rate currently stands at 39 deaths per 1 000 births.
The country's maternal mortality ratio is currently estimated at 130 deaths per 100 000 live births, while 18% of pregnant women attending the country's antenatal clinics are living with HIV.
According to the United Nations Population Fund, impressive progress in maternal health has been achieved in eastern and southern Africa, but the region still experiences far too many maternal deaths and ill health related to pregnancy and childbirth, with far too many young people who cannot get the needed contraception.
The region has the world's second worst rate of maternal mortality at 455 deaths per 100 000 live births.
NAMPA
The waiting home will be known as 'Lady Pohamba Maternity Waiting Home' after the former First Lady, Penehupifo Pohamba.
The centre is expected to ease the burden faced by expectant mothers as many come from far to be close to health centres for the delivery of their babies.
They will now be accommodated at this centre.
The construction of the centre, which started in 2013, also aims to reduce maternal and child mortality in the region.
The maternity waiting home was funded through the World Health Programme for Accelerating the Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality (PARMaCM).
Launched in February 2013, PARMaCM is a joint partnership between the health ministry, EU and the World Health Organisation.
It has a total budget of about N$132 million.
According to recent PARMaCM statistics, Namibia's infant mortality rate currently stands at 39 deaths per 1 000 births.
The country's maternal mortality ratio is currently estimated at 130 deaths per 100 000 live births, while 18% of pregnant women attending the country's antenatal clinics are living with HIV.
According to the United Nations Population Fund, impressive progress in maternal health has been achieved in eastern and southern Africa, but the region still experiences far too many maternal deaths and ill health related to pregnancy and childbirth, with far too many young people who cannot get the needed contraception.
The region has the world's second worst rate of maternal mortality at 455 deaths per 100 000 live births.
NAMPA
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