Harare, (New Ziana) – More than 11,000 babies were delivered at the City of Harare’s 12 polyclinics during the first half of 2026, a senior municipal health official has said.
City Health Matron Last Mutandwa said the births were recorded across the city’s four health districts, with the municipal health facilities continuing to provide comprehensive maternity services to thousands of women, including expectant mothers from outside Harare.
She said the expansion of maternity services at Mabvuku Polyclinic to include Caesarean section (C-section) deliveries has significantly improved access to emergency obstetric care while easing pressure on referral hospitals.
Between January and July this year, the clinic carried out 530 C-sections, comprising 372 emergency procedures and 158 elective operations, demonstrating the facility’s growing capacity to manage both routine and complicated deliveries.
Mutandwa, however, expressed concern over the high number of babies born before arrival (BBA) at health facilities, revealing that about 530 such cases were recorded during the same period. She warned that giving birth outside a health institution unnecessarily exposes both mothers and newborns to preventable health complications.
She urged pregnant women to register early for antenatal care, attend all scheduled clinic visits, avoid the use of traditional herbs that may lead to pregnancy-related complications, and ensure they deliver at recognised health facilities where skilled healthcare workers and emergency obstetric services are available.
“The City remains committed to ensuring every mother and newborn receives timely, safe and quality maternity care. Early antenatal booking, regular clinic visits and delivery at a health facility remain the safest ways to protect the lives of mothers and their babies,” said Mutandwa.
New Ziana
