A traditional midwife in Mbare high-density suburb, Ms Esther Zinyoro, also known as Mbuya Gwena has helped in the delivery of 100 babies within eight (8) days at her home at Tagarira flats.
This comes as public hospitals do not have health caregivers as they are on industrial action they embarked on the 3rd of September citing unsustainable salaries and poor working conditions. Speaking to the Herald, Mbuya Gwena said:
I have never assisted such huge numbers of women to deliver in my life. Yes, I sometimes assist women from my church should there be any need for assistance, but not as many as these ones.
The makeshift labour can, however, be a health hazard as Mbuya Gwena cannot prevent mother-child HIV transmission.
Some of the mothers whom Mbuya Gwena helped to deliver their babies urged the government to iron out differences with health caregivers saying that they ended up in Mbare after finding formal clinics closed.
More: The Herald