On July 23, the Malawi Parliament will rise after six years in office since 2019. Not only will the seats of sitting legislators be vacated, by law, the committees that run the legislature on trust from Malawians will also have finished their mandate. KONDWANI KAMIYALA talks to Matthews Ngwale, outgoing chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Health. Excerpts:
QWhat about the highs?
AYou see, I am happy that the relationship between us, government, civil society and other stakeholders was very cordial.
Even so, we pushed for the construction of 900 health posts across the country. That means we have two new posts per constituency.
During your tenure, we have seen the coming of the controversial Termination of Pregnancy Bill which seeks to add other conditions under which women can seek an abortion in public hospitals. How has it been?
Yes, some of our stakeholders came in with concerns about unsafe abortions where women continue to die. We took it to the house but it was never discussed. The problem is that this matter is heavily misunderstood but women are dying not only because of the effects of unsafe abortions but some even commit suicide unable to face the world with an unwanted pregnancy.
QS o m e propel the fact that it is more costly to treat a woman who has had an unsafe abortion than to carry out a safe one. How true is this?
AThe cost is not only on the drug. You see, when an unsafe abortion is procured and there is need for treatment, a woman has to be transported to the hospital. Here, drugs are expected to be administered and the medical staff have to use intravenous syringes. These calculations would let you know how much goes into it. The problem is that those speaking against it use moral and religious grounds. But then for some, it is religion which propels these unsafe abortions for their own good.
QWhat has been the reaction from fellow parliamentarians and your constituents in Chiradzulu West?
AYou see, some took it personal but I brushed it all aside. The support from many of the parliamentarians was overwhelming. I was called Dr Abortion but you see, I was only doing my part serving my constituents and the nation at large as chairperson. It has not been about my belief in abortion or not. It is not about my understanding or grounds for or against the issue. There is so much evidence that women are dying so we can’t look aside. My constituents are understanding. Even stakeholders who have been coming in my area have conducted sensitization meetings that this is not my personal affair have made T/A Chitera from my area.
QThe House rises on July 23. If by chance you get back and return to preside over the committee, what would you do differently?
AIt is unfortunate that Parliament and the government don’t work together as they should. When they were signing protocols on reproductive health and gender, Parliament was never there. It has been difficult to provide an oversight role given the limitations. If stakeholders do not bring back the issue, those on the position will have nothing to do about it. This is why you find that our neighbours like Zambia and South Africa have flexed the law on abortion where it is provided on-demand.
QAny other comments?
AAnother problem that has hit the country is that of non-communicable diseases like epilepsy, sickle-cell anaemia, blood pressure and even men dying from the effects of using viagra. The dialysis machines for kidney problems are mostly broken down. Before looking at the remedies for these, we need heavy research on the causes 80 percent from the government. We made sure that this issue should not just come out in conferences but do nothing about it.
Then the United States Department of International Development pulled out and the health sector was grossly affected.
