Minimising infant and maternal mortality in restive North West: CPDM Senator Wade in

By Bakah Derick in Bamenda 

Senator of the Cameroon People Democratic Movement CPDM Regina Mundi has continued her campaign to reduce infant and maternal mortality in the conflict hit North West Region.

The Senator Wednesday May 29 donated delivery kits to several pregnant women in Bamenda with the hope of preventing any form of delivery related dead.

 

Senator Regina Mundi E. hands over Delivery kits voucher to beneficiary as NWRDPH and DNWRFHP looks on

Speaking at the Bamenda Regional Hospital during the handing over event, the Senator who preferred to be called Ma Mundi said explained that her donation was targeting pregnant women currently displaced from their homes by the on-going armed conflict in the region. According to her, most of these women have lost their property and sources of income reason why assisting them with the basics like a delivery kit is necessary. She maintains that at this time and age, no woman or child should die during delivery adding that every woman has the right to have a healthy pregnancy, successful delivery and a healthy baby. She went on to encourage the women never to see their pregnancy as a burden promising to assist any woman who calls her in need of assistance for the child. 

"I have been interested in this area for a long time and as a senator that is one of the areas where I will one to push for reforms. I will want to see that the government continues to increase efforts in trying to eradicate maternal death and also to be able to sensitize society so that the public should know their place in the reduction of maternal deaths" She told reporters

Speaking earlier celebrated Professor Emeritus Prof Robert Ivo Leke Provost at the Catholic University of Cameroon CATUC and expert in reproductive health with interest in infant and maternal heath appreciated Senator Regina Mundi for making the choice to minimise maternal mortality in the region and the country as a whole. Despite the relatively high number of women who show up for antenatal check-ups in Cameroon, there is an ever-increasing maternal mortality ratio and pregnancy outcomes remain inadequate; the Professor explained. He encouraged other politicians in the country to make an intentional effort like Ma Mundi to ensure that women are not deprived of the right to maternal health. Prof Leke also used the gathering to advocate for a reduction of the cost of a delivery kit (delivery kit and caesarean section kit) to the lowest possible cost to make affordable for all. 

While thanking the Senator for the Donation, North West Regional Delegate for Public Health Dr Che Soh Kingsley used the opportunity to explain the Obstetric kits program which he said reduces financial barrier in the management of complications like tears, infections, postpartum, eclampsia as well as reduce waiting time on arrival in a health facility during labour. He clarified that in all Public Health facilities as part of the obstetric kit program, a delivery kit cost 6000FCFA and caesarean section kit 40.000FCFA which come along with other free services like treatment of some delivery related complications.  

The Bamenda Regional Hospital is the second stop of the Senator. She had earlier in 2018 made a similar donation to women at the oldest mother and child care centre in the region PMI Nkwen. She regrets that her colleague senators who she promised to work with during her campaigns have not made infant and maternal mortality their priority and she could not force them. 

Being a Political Bureau member and Senator of the ruling CPDM party, she however did not tell the internally displaced women how soon the armed conflict will end so they return to their homes. She defends her silence on the matter saying it is not an individual effort to end the conflict but the duty of everyone in the region to work towards an end to the crisis. 

Cameroon according to UNICEF is ranked 18th amongst the 20 countries in the world with the highest mortality for children under the age of five, which stands at 148 per 1,000 as at 2003. “Maternal mortality is alarmingly high at 670 per 100,000 births” the organization states. Local statistics show an increase in maternal mortality ratio from 669 maternal deaths per 1000 live births in 2004 to 782 maternal deaths per 100,000 births in 2011. The obstetric kits program according to public health sources is intended to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in Cameroon by handling issues of lateness in health seeking decision, in transferring to health facility and case management on arrival at the health unit. 

Photo Credits: Nestor Njodzefe