Zambian health officials has said that malaria remained the leading cause of maternal death in the African country.

Speaking in a meeting dubbed Malaria in Pregnancy Dissemination, Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Simon Miti said malaria accounted for 20 percent of maternal deaths in Zambia.

There was a need to intensify the fight against malaria in the county, particularly among pregnant women, Miti said. He added that the combat against the disease has been a part of the National Strategic Framework.

It was learned from the meeting that fear, perceived lack of efficacy and high cost led to rural women not to take antenatal drugs which was blamed for the high rate of maternal deaths.

Malaria is NO. 1 disease in Zambia, accounting for 37 percent of all outpatient hospital visits and 500,000 deaths a year. The country with a population of 11 million records four million malaria cases each year.

Source: Xinhua