Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are leading causes of death and disability among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Zimbabwe.

UNFPA provides technical and financial support to the government through the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) towards the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality. Maternal mortality in Zimbabwe is 363 per 100,000 live births, according to the Preliminary Results of the 2022 Housing and Population Census. 

UNFPA’s efforts towards reducing maternal mortality are at national, provincial and district level and include supporting the government in the:

• Development of policies, guidelines and strategies on reproductive health;
• Provision of extensive helath provider training on life saving emergency obstetric and neonatal care;
• Provision of cervical cancer screening and treatment;
• Provision of essential reproductive health commodities;
• Scaling up of the use of long acting family planning methods;
• Refurbishing of public health facilities including maternity waiting homes
• Repair for obstetric fistula