The lack of a health facility in Zinnye, a small farming community in the Gudaayiri Electoral Area of the Wa East District, is a major cause of roadside deliveries, according to women in the community.
Mercy Bazooraa, a mother from Zinnye, explained to Info Radio that the poor condition of the community's road, coupled with the absence of a health facility, forces women to give birth by roadsides while on their way to Baayiri or Naasah for medical care.
Due to the lack of a health facility in the community, women have no choice but to travel several kilometers to Baayiri or Naasah for medical care.
Madam Bazooraa mentioned that women who are in the advanced stages of pregnancy go through labour pain at odd hours since the community does not have any health facility. She indicated that the situation becomes worse during the peak of the rainy season due to a river that blocks access to the health facility in Baayiri.
"We go to Naasah or Baayiri for medical care, but the road is in very poor condition. During the rainy season, we are unable to cross the river to Baayiri for medical care."
"The poor state of the road sometimes leads to stillbirths because women are unable to bear the pain of labor." she added.
Madam Bazooraa stated that the road leading from Zinnye to Naasah is in such a terrible condition that it has become difficult to reach the health facility in Naasah.
She also mentioned that the entire community relies on only three boreholes, which are currently all broken down. As a result, they have no choice but to use dugouts as their only source of drinking water.
Another resident of the community, Madam Rebecca Dondorikuu, pointed out that they have to travel long distances to obtain clean drinking water. She appealed to charitable organizations to come to their aid.
Some of the elders in the community have threatened to boycott the 2024 general election because of the lack of basic social amenities.