Government has renewed its call to accelerate the reduction of maternal and neonatal deaths to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.
The goal focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being of people of all ages.
Ministry of Health chief of health services reforms Matias Joshua made this appeal on Saturday in Chikwawa during a ceremony where Nation Publications Limited (NPL) through its flagship safe motherhood initiative, Mother’s Fun Run (MFR), donated equipment worth over K382 million to the district health office.
He stressed the need for public-private collaboration to reduce the country’s maternal mortality rate, currently at 381 per 100 000 live births.
Joshua said: “The Ministry of Health, through the Reproductive Health Directorate, is working hard to improve maternal, neonatal and child health services in the country.
“Evidence shows improvements in several areas. For instance, maternal mortality has decreased from 675 per 100 000 live births in 2010 to 381 per 100 000 in 2020.”
He highlighted other progress, including a reduction in home deliveries and an increase in contraception use among married women, which rose from 46 percent in 2015 to 65.5 percent in 2020.
He added that cervical cancer screening coverage improved from 40 percent in 2022 to 46.2 percent in 2023, and the government introduced HPV DNA testing at 35 sites as a high-impact screening intervention.
However, despite these advances, Joshua acknowledged that the current maternal mortality rate remains significantly higher than the SDG target of 70 per 100 000 live births.
He applauded NPL’s MFR initiative and its partners for supporting the government’s efforts to meet the SDG targets, particularly goal 3.
UNFPA Malawi representative Nelida Rodrigues also praised the MFR initiative, noting that it aligns with the United Nations’ mission and SDGs, particularly SDG 3.
“The UN’s engagement in maternal health goes beyond support. We are deeply involved in addressing the real challenges women face every day,” she said.
Rodrigues added that UNFPA had contributed essential equipment and supplies to MFR this year, including items for infection control in theatres, comprehensive abortion care and enhanced family planning services.
Standard Bank head of legal and governance Norah Nsanja, who was the guest of honour, announced that the bank has adopted Makhuwira Health Centre, which the government is upgrading into a district hospital.
Government expects the upgraded Makhuwira to serve surrounding health facilities that are often cut off by floods during the rainy season in East Bank.
Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority public relations officer Nancy Malata, expressed deep concern over the loss of mothers’ lives during childbirth.
“We are committed to contributing towards raising a healthy generation that can positively impact the development of this country,” she said.
Trustee Audrey Mwala from Press Trust noted that her organisation supports MFR because its values align with those of Press Trust.
She urged the Chikwawa District Health Office to maintain the equipment that partners have donated.
In response, Chikwawa director of health and social services, Dr. Grace Momba and district commissioner Nardine Kamba thanked NPL and its partners for the donation, stating that it would alleviate equipment shortages in the district’s health facilities.
They pledged to ensure the equipment is used for its intended purposes.
NPL chief executive officer and MFR patron Mbumba Banda thanked all partners for their contributions to the success of this year’s MFR.
The event began with a fun run from Zonse Villa to Chikwawa Boma ground, followed by a tour of Chikwawa District Hospital’s theatre, maternity, post-natal, and kangaroo wards by MFR partners.
The weather, unusually cool for Chikwawa, allowed officials from NPL, the district health office, MFR partners and well-wishers to participate comfortably in the fun run.
MFR is an NPL flagship safe motherhood initiative that raises funds towards purchase of medical equipment in the country’s district health facilities.
