Malawi scores highly on Maternal Health
Malawi President Joyce Banda on Saturday received a loud applause and standing ovation on her approach of involving traditional leaders in the fight against maternal mortality through her Presidential on safe motherhood in Malawi.
This has resulted in the dropping of maternal deaths from 675 to 460 per every 100 000 live births.
“Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, my strategy has received significant support from all stakeholders and is showing encouraging results,” stressed Banda during her key note address at a symposium on Campaign for Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (Carmma), on the sidelines of the Ticad V.
Banda told the high-level gathering how deeply attached she is to the cause of reducing maternal mortality in Malawi, which she considers more of a calling than anything else.
In their remarks, United Nations Development Programme administrator, Helen Clark, President of Rwanda Paul Kagame, the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) executive director Babatunde Osotimehin, among others commended Malawi for the innovative approach of using traditional leaders, in the fight against maternal mortality adding that this could be an example worthy emulating.
The symposium was organised following previous commitments by African Heads of State and Government on maternal, new born and child health to speed up achievement of health-related Millennium Development Goals (MGDs).
Meanwhile, President Banda has left Japan for the People’s Republic of China.
