Women MPs Step Up Fight Against Maternal, Newborn Deaths

The Women’s Caucus of Parliament has pledged to push for increased support to central referral hospitals as part of efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths in Malawi.

Women’s Caucus Chairperson Mary Maulidi made the commitment on Tuesday after officials from Kamuzu Central Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Zomba Central Hospital and Mzuzu Central Hospital appeared before the caucus at Parliament Building in Lilongwe.

Maulidi said the hospitals continue to face challenges that affect the delivery of quality maternal and newborn healthcare, including shortages of fuel, ambulances, healthcare workers and other essential resources.

She said the caucus, which comprises 47 women Members of Parliament, would compile the concerns raised by the hospitals and present them to the Ministry of Finance to lobby for adequate funding.

Maulidi also said the caucus would engage the Ministry of Health on the need to recruit more healthcare workers, noting that staff shortages, overcrowding and delays in women reaching health facilities contribute to maternal and neonatal deaths.

“As the Women’s Caucus, we have agreed with the stakeholders to work together. We are planning to prepare a report to present in Parliament, and we have also agreed to engage the Minister of Health on the need to recruit additional staff,” she said.

She further said the caucus would lobby through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for additional ambulances for district hospitals to improve emergency referrals.

Maulidi also expressed concern over unsafe abortions among girls, calling for greater involvement of traditional, religious and community leaders in addressing the problem.

She said the caucus would engage traditional leaders to challenge cultural attitudes and stigma surrounding sexual and reproductive health issues.

“We are going to engage church leaders, community leaders and traditional leaders to take part in this exercise to minimise cases of abortion among girls,” Maulidi said.

Meanwhile, Mzuzu Central Hospital Director Dr Dorice Kayambo outlined several challenges affecting the hospital’s implementation of maternal and neonatal health interventions under the Health Sector Strategic Plan III.

Kayambo said the hospital has inadequate bed capacity, resulting in overcrowding and, in some cases, women giving birth on the floor.

She also cited shortages of neonatal facilities and healthcare workers as major challenges.

According to Kayambo, the hospital continues to experience shortages of critical technical, administrative and clinical staff, while some specialised professionals are reluctant to work at the facility despite government postings.

Before meeting officials from the central referral hospitals, the Women’s Caucus also engaged civil society organisations and officials from district hospitals in Mchinji, Rumphi and Mangochi on maternal and neonatal health challenges.

Officials from the central referral hospitals said Malawi has made significant progress in reducing maternal deaths, with the maternal mortality ratio falling from about 700 to 224 deaths per 100,000 live births.

However, they said the figure remains well above the World Health Organization (WHO) target of 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.

Neonatal mortality has also declined to 24 deaths per 1,000 live births, but remains twice the WHO target of 12 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030.

The figures, the officials said, underline the need for continued investment in maternal and newborn healthcare services across the country.