Africa-Press – Lesotho. Vodacom Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) launched an ambulance taxi programme to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rate in the
country on Friday. The programme that is dubbed M-mama, is a ground breaking emergency transport system utilising mobile technology. The expansion is said to provide lifesaving
care to 8,500 pregnant women and their children over the next four years in Lesotho, potentially saving 200 lives. Speaking at the press conference, the Minister of Health Hon.
Motlatsi Maqelepo said COVID-19 pandemic has urged every individual to be very attentive, especially when his ministry announces COVID-19 results, which is an indication that people
are well literate on the pandemic. However, he indicated that there still remains a vital necessity to not forget about the most vulnerable minority groups.
Maqelepo said women and children lose their lives during labour or time of pregnancy. He said in most cases this is due to failure to reach health centres and clinics on time, either because they are
too far or there is no transport (ambulance service). He added that according to statistics in 2014, out of 100 000 women and children, 104 lost their lives annually while current reports state that in every 100
000, 614 women and children lose lives.
“This is very important. It might be that most of us were not aware. These are the lives of people who were going to
be future leaders of this country, who were going to contribute in the growth of our country’s economy. Hence a collaboration to curb maternal mortality
rate. We have partnered with Vodafone, Vodacom foundation and Vodacom Lesotho,” said Maqelepo. “This project provides toll free call-centres for emergency cases whereby an
ambulance will be instructed to transport a patient to the nearest clinic,” he said and noted that the programme will be implemented as soon as it is complete.
Vodacom Managing Director (MD) Philip Amoateng stated that every year, around 272 women in Lesotho die due to complications related to pregnancy or childbirth.
“The rate of maternal death in Lesotho, as per 100,000 live births, is still among
the highest in the world despite improvements since the past decade. Due to the prevailing situation, the country did not manage to attain the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) target of reducing maternal deaths by 75 percent at the end of 2015; the National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) of 300 maternal
deaths per 100,000 live births by the end of 2017; and is still falling short of attaining the current United Nations (UN) 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) target of 70 deaths per 100,000 live births,” said Amoateng. He said Vodafone Foundation will establish three call centres to cover the entire
country 24 hours a day and will provide technical expertise to get the system up and running. “The Lesotho government is committing healthcare professionals and an increasing
percentage of the transport costs to ensure that the programme is entirely sustained, within existing health budgets over the next four years,” explained
the Ministry of Health (MoH) Sexual and Reproductive Manager Motsoanku Mefane. Vodafone Foundation Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator ‘Mareitumetse Sefako indicated
that the programme will start this year and end in 2023. Services will start in three districts being Berea, Leribe and Butha-Buthe and other districts shall follow. The Government of Lesotho contributed M10 million to this initiative.
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