Opposition MP hails Malawi President’s safe motherhood initiative
Opposition party’s parliamentarian in Malawi Jolly Kalero on Wednesday commended efforts by President Mrs Joyce Banda in promoting women’s health thorough her brain child the Presidential Initiative for Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood.
The initiative was largely established to reduce maternal deaths among mothers in the country.
Kalero made the commendation at Lumbadzi Health Centre in the capital Lilongwe where Deputy Health Minister Halima Daudi was laying a foundation stone for a women’s shelter.
“Even though I am MCP [Malawi Congress Party] member, I can say that what the President is doing on maternal health is commendable, we have to safeguard the lives of our mothers, and focus on development,” he said.
Daudi, who was accompanied by deputy minister of gender Jennifer Chilunga and deputy Foreign Minister Rachel Mazombo Zulu, said the government is committed to giving the people of Malawi access to the best health services.
“Women and children are the most vulnerable and though there are many challenges, the government is committed to giving the people of Malawi access to health services. We are making sure that no woman should die during childbirth,” she said.
According to Daudi recent statistics has shown that 71 out of 100 women go to the hospital to give birth while 29 seek assistance from traditional birth attendants, who she said cannot help them when serious complications occur.
The Deputy Minister said about 130 women shelters are expected to be built across the country.
Chairperson of the Presidential Initiative on Safemotherhood and maternal health Senior Chief Kwataine encouraged women to go to the hospitals to give birth.
“Women have to go to the hospital to begin antenatal clinics as soon as they know that they are pregnant. This is where we begin with when we talk of Safemotherhood.
“It is from the first month right up to the ninth month and I am encouraging the traditional leaders in Lumbadzi area to pass on the Safemotherhood messages to their communities,” Senior Chief Kwataine said.
