Inkosi Gomani V urges women to deliver in hospitals BARTHOLOMEW KAWINA
Inkosi Gomani V has advised expectant mothers to deliver their babies in health facilities to reduce maternal and child mortality rates in the country.
The Ngoni chief said this on Tuesday in Ntcheu on the sidelines of a sensitisation meeting for chiefs and members of the village development committees (VDCs) on the importance of encouraging pregnant mothers to deliver in health facilities.
The meeting was organised under Results-Based Financing for Maternal and Neonatal Health (RBF), an initiative aiming to contribute to the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity.
“Pregnant mothers should deliver at the hands of skilled health personnel because they are skilled enough. Let us avoid unnecessary deaths that come as a result of delivering under unskilled people,” said Gomani V.
“I also urge chiefs to enforce by-laws that discourage child marriages so that girls should not bear children while young,” he added.
Gomani V further asked chiefs to sensitise their subjects on the importance of embracing family planning.
Under the RBF programme, currently in Balaka, Ntcheu, Dedza and Mchinji districts, pregnant women who attend antenatal care are given conditional cash transfers.
RBF coordinator for Ntcheu, Bhima Nkutumula, asked members of the VDC to sensitise communities on the importance of delivering at the health facilities where they can receive care.
