America may be one of the most expensive places to have a baby in the world, but thanks to a hospital in Zimbabwe, it's not the most ridiculous. On top of a delivery fee of $50, one hospital is charging women an additional $5 for every scream during childbirth.
The hospital in question claims that screams create a "false alarm." The real question is, for what exactly? The fact that childbirth is painful isn't news to anyone. And in a country where eight mothers die every day in childbirth, it seems that this sense of "alarm" isn't exactly unwarranted. This fee is causing some serious hardships for Zimbabweans. The people of the poverty-stricken nation can barely afford the standard delivery fee: The average annual income per person is $150, making the delivery fee a third of that number. With this fee already such a heavy burden, these up charges are even more absurd.
However, with nearly 62-percent of Zimbabweans saying they've paid some sort of bribe in the past year, it's clear that corruption runs rampant in this country. For women who can't pay the fee, they're detained at the hospital and charged interest until they can cough up the cash. Thankfully, a member of the UK-based Transparency International has met with the Zimbabwean deputy prime minister — since then, the number of complaints about the charges has dropped off. For the sake of these families — and the right of every woman to scream — we hope it stays that way.
-
Give Selena Gomez's 'Emilia Pérez' Coat the Oscar AlreadyThe symbolic costuming choice is also my winter wardrobe inspiration.
-
The True Story of Dolours and Marian Price Is Just As Harrowing As It Seems in 'Say Nothing'The new FX series is set in Ireland during The Troubles.
-
Why Did Drunk Elephant Recall Three of Its Best-Selling Skincare Products?Here's how to know if yours were compromised.
-
36 Ways Women Still Aren't Equal to MenIt's just one of the many ways women still aren't equal to men.
-
EMILY's List President Laphonza Butler Has Big Plans for the OrganizationUnder Butler's leadership, the largest resource for women in politics aims to expand Black political power and become more accessible for candidates across the nation.
-
Want to Fight for Abortion Rights in Texas? Raise Your Voice to State LegislatorsEmily Cain, executive director of EMILY's List and and former Minority Leader in Maine, says that to stop the assault on reproductive rights, we need to start demanding more from our state legislatures.
-
Your Abortion Questions, AnsweredHere, MC debunks common abortion myths you may be increasingly hearing since Texas' near-total abortion ban went into effect.
-
The Future of Afghan Women and Girls Depends on What We Do NextBetween the U.S. occupation and the Taliban, supporting resettlement for Afghan women and vulnerable individuals is long overdue.
-
How to Help Afghanistan Refugees and Those Who Need AidWith the situation rapidly evolving, organizations are desperate for help.
-
It’s Time to Give Domestic Workers the Protections They DeserveThe National Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, reintroduced today, would establish a new set of standards for the people who work in our homes and take a vital step towards racial and gender equity.
-
The Biden Administration Announced It Will Remove the Hyde AmendmentThe pledge was just one of many gender equity commitments made by the administration, including the creation of the first U.S. National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence.
