Epworth TBAs Deliver 710 Babies Since 2021

Epworth’s Traditional Birth Attendants have delivered 710 babies since 2021, filling gaps in maternal care as clinic fees and shortages push women toward home births (image source)

A registered group of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in Epworth says it has delivered 710 babies since 2021, highlighting the role of community midwives as a safety net for women excluded from formal maternal services amid rising clinic fees and strained public health capacity.

The most striking detail is the scale: records kept by the Epworth Traditional Midwives group, registered with the Traditional Medicines Council, show 710 home deliveries over four years. This figure underlines growing reliance on TBAs where transport costs, booking fees and clinic shortages limit access to institutional midwifery.

Local midwives and health advocates say TBAs provide emergency childbirth care, basic antenatal monitoring and postnatal support to women who cannot afford clinic booking fees or who are turned away for lack of consumables. Gogo Melody Nyakudanga, a TBA leader, described frequent late-night calls from labouring mothers and the ongoing struggle to secure gloves, cord clamps and disinfectant. “We take mothers in, we deliver, we refer when complications come,” she told reporters, noting that the TBAs train informally and rely on community donations and occasional NGO support.

Public health professionals caution that while TBAs fill an urgent gap, they are not substitutes for skilled birth attendants in facilities equipped to handle obstetric complications. Maternal mortality in Zimbabwe remains a concern, and Amnesty International and census data show that many women still face barriers to safe, facility-based delivery. Dr. Patricia Moyo, a Harare obstetrician, said TBAs reduce immediate risk for women forced to deliver at home but urged stronger referral links and training so TBAs can stabilise and transfer complicated cases quickly.

Background explains why TBAs remain central in Epworth. Clinic booking fees, informal charges and transport hurdles push low-income women toward home delivery. Reports note that maternity fees at some clinics vary widely, and shortages of staff and supplies lead to turnaways, particularly at night or for women without cash. CBZ and local media highlight community programmes that support TBAs with supplies and training to reduce infection risk and strengthen referral pathways.

The Traditional Medicines Council recognises and registers some TBA groups, enabling limited oversight and occasional support. However, funding and formal integration into the health system remain weak. Health advocates argue that recognition must be paired with structured training, reliable referral systems and emergency transport funding to lower maternal and neonatal risks.

Community reactions have been pragmatic. Mothers interviewed credit TBAs with saving lives when clinics were inaccessible. Civic groups and banks have donated clean delivery kits and sanitation supplies. Yet NGOs warn of avoidable complications without stronger facility access and ambulance options for peri-urban areas like Epworth.