Zambia: Expectant mothers of the Siyowi Ward of Mazabuka Central Constituency are dissatisfied with the lack of Maternity facilities available to them. The Siyowi Ward residents have claimed that they have to travel long distances to access maternity services.
The soon to be mothers have called on the local administration to get to the root of the issue. The lack of the Maternity Annex at short distances has been a major cause of concern for the people of the ward.
Other communities of the  Mazabuka Central Constituency also face the same problem when it comes to accessing medical facilities. Mothers at the feeding camps have to travel a distance of almost 40 kilometres to get to the Mazabuka General Hospital.
The community’s general belief is that there is an urgent need for better medical infrastructure in the constituency. The soon-to-be mothers of the Siyowi Ward have come forward to claim that they have to travel 20 Kilometers to get Maternity Facilities.
This is because, the local clinic does not have a maternity wing in its premises. Pamela Kabundula, a resident of the ward has expressed concern with the lack of a maternity annex at Siyowi Clinic.
She claimed that the situation has negatively impacted the provision of health care to expectant mothers. In response, Kabundula has asked the relevant authorities to take corrective measures.
The ward resident asserted that it is very important for the Government and Civic Leaders to consider constructing a maternity annexe. With the new construction, the officials will be able to bring health services closer to the people.
Siyowi Ward Councillor Keith Kabezo has also discussed the situation with media officials. He said he understood the residents’ concern and announced that the construction of a maternity annex is in the pipeline.
He, however, could not state when the maternity will be constructed saying that only two projects have been approved in Siyowi Ward under CDF for this year.