The Ministry of Health asks men to cooperate with each other in order to take part in preserving the health of the child and the mother because it will help in reducing deaths of mothers who die giving birth and those of children who die during childbirth. Men are also reminded that their role will help to prevent child sex in different parts of the country.
On the 14th of November, a week dedicated to protecting the health of the child and the mother was launched in the Cyanzarwe sector in the Rubavu region, an event that coincided with the International Handwashing Day.
In the theme “No mother deserves to die giving birth”, the director in charge of planning and evaluation in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Parfait UWARIRAYE asked men to take part in preserving the health of the mother and the child.
He said, “The role of the man is important and important, it is his duty to take care of the pregnant woman and accompany her during the examination; during childbirth and continues to be close to her after giving birth, as if she feels that monitoring the child’s life is up to her.”
He continued asking men to cooperate with each other in order to take care of the health of the mother and the child, reducing the death rate of both of them. One of the residents of Cyanzarwe said that few men feel that they are concerned about the health of the child, but if this attitude changes, it would make a difference as explained.
He said, “A lot of men feel that their job is to make money; telling him to follow his pregnant wife, he feels that it is about the woman, he and the child who is the mother that he should follow. If we work together as they told us, neither the marriage nor the dead women will continue to live.”
The deputy director of Rubavu district in charge of community welfare, Ishime Pacifique, also stressed that they are going to approach men and encourage them to cooperate with women in order to deal with the problem of malnutrition that leads to infertility.
During this week, which will end on November 18, expectant mothers are encouraged to check themselves and approach doctors early if there is a problem, they are also encouraged to eat a healthy diet.
Other activities that will be focused on include providing Vitamin A pills for children, deworming pills, child nutrition screening, immunization and family planning services. The 2020 National Health and Social Survey (DHS2020), shows that 203 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, while 19 perinatal deaths per 1,000 live births.
One of the reasons for these deaths is that there are few midwives; that is why the Ministry of Health has a plan to increase the number of midwives in order to reduce these deaths.
