BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini is working on reducing maternal mortality complications.
This will be done through the Ministry of Health, as revealed by the Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi.
The Minister said her Ministry believes that the availability of more health facilities will reduce the distance travelled by patients for maternal cases thereby reducing the maternal mortality complications and mortalities that the country is still battling with.
She was speaking during a sod cutting at a clinic construction site in Ntondozi, in the Manzini Region.
The project is financed by Taiwan and Phase I will cost approximately E10.4 million.
“Sustainable Development Goal 3 emphasises the need to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Therefore, His Majesty’s Government is committed to fulfilling this goal by making sure that every community accesses health services closer so as to cut unnecessary costs and delays in getting basic primary health care,” she said.
Nkosi further said Ntondozi is one of the 16 constituencies in the Manzini region, a region with the highest population in the country at 355 945 people, according to the 2017 census. The Ntondozi population is at 14 810 of the total population, distributed in seven chiefdoms.
“Health facilities in the Inkhundla include Gebeni and Khalangilile clinics which are in a dire state of repair and maintenance,”
“The nearest Government hospital for referral is the Mankanyane Government Hospital, which is a bit far at approximately 30km away. Unfortunately, this area has not been provided with a health service outreach,” she said. In addition, the Minister said they were grateful for the site’s positioning as it is not only accessible but also more central. This will allow catchment areas (the 7 chiefdoms) to access all the health services upon completion.
