Lundazi district has about four thousand traditional healers registered with THAPAZ, Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia.
These traditional healers sometimes attend to matters concerning pregnant women.
Lundazi District Hospital Midwife, Chileke Yambisa says some pregnant women in the district go to these traditional healers for assistance if they experience any complication.
Ms. Yambisa says there is need to engage the traditional healers and sensitize them on the importance of referring pregnant women to health facilities.
She says this year alone, the district has recorded seven maternal deaths due to delays in referring women with pregnancy complications to health facilities.
Ms. Yambisa says maternal mortality rate can be reduced if various stakeholders including traditional healers are sensitized so that they understand why a health facility should be a first priority for any pregnant women.
She was speaking yesterday in Chipata when she presented a maternal report for Lundazi district during the maternal deaths surveillance and response meeting.