The Campaign for Improved Maternal Health Services in Rural Areas is intended to improve access to basic and comprehensive maternal health services in Zimbabwe and reduce by half the current maternal mortality rate of 725/100 000 live births by 2015,the Zimbabwe campaign is being undertaken in partnership with several organisations working in sexual and reproductive health rights.

Speaking at the launch, the Guest of Honour , Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Douglas Mombeshora said, “Reducing maternal mortality has been a stated goal for at least 30 years under various regional and international agreements signed and ratified by African governments ,such as the Millennium Goals and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, yet despite these proclamations, the maternal mortality ratio continues to rise and omen continue to have limited access to maternal and other reproductive health services.”

The Zimbabwe Maternal and Peri-natal mortality study conducted by the Ministry of Health and child welfare in 2007 established a maternal mortality ratio MMR of 725 death per 100 000 live births. More recently and more alarmingly, the 2010-11 Zimbabwe Demographic and health survey recorded a maternal mortality ratio of 960 deaths per 100 000 live births.

Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare successfully launched the African Union Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal (CARMA).Dr Mombeshora said,“CARMA seeks to call for more intensive and integrated efforts towards reduction of maternal mortality, through the implementation of the maternal and neonatal health road map 2007-2015”

Present at the launch was the UN Women country Representative who urged the government to continue supporting the efforts of the Ministry of Health and child welfare in trying to reduce these avoidable deaths and that politicians should put the health of women first. Members of Parliament from several constituencies attended the launch as well as members of the uniformed forces.