Malawi: Project reduces maternal deaths

Article originally appeared in The Daily Times

Community Based Maternal Neonatal Care Programme has reduced maternal and neonatal deaths in Dowa, implementers of the project said.

Speaking last Thursday in Mponela at a three-day media workshop, coordinator for the project in the district, Henry Kamwetsa, said since 2008 when Save the Children started implementing it, deaths of mothers and newly born babies have been reduced in the district.

"This is because more women are now delivering at health facilities due to increased awareness on the need to deliver at the facilities," said Kamwetsa.

In 2007, before the project started, the maternal mortality was 194 deaths per 100,000 live births and in 2011 it was 120 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to figures produced at the workshop.

Kamwetsa further said there is also an increased number of women starting antenatal clinic in the first three months of their pregnancies and also more postnatal women go back to health facilities for reviews within seven days of deliveries.

"Despite all this improvement, there are some challenges that are being faced.

"For example, there are some religious and cultural beliefs that hinder the community from seeking health care and also high levels of illiteracy which make the community to slowly adopt the interventions.

"However, we are working with traditional leaders to overcome some cultural and religious beliefs that hinder the community to prompt seek healthcare," he said.

According to Save the Children's Acting Programme Manager for Maternal and Newborn Health, Reuben Ligowe, the programme has been effective in terms of reduction of maternal and neonatal deaths.

"Maternal and neonatal deaths are preventable hence everyone should take part in improving maternal health if we are to achieve Millennium Development Goal number four and five," he said.