Malawi Among the First African Countries to Launch Road Map to Prevent Women from Dying While Giving Life

LILONGWE, Malawi — The Malawi Government today launched a Road Map to combat maternal and infant death, with the theme, “Maternal Death is Preventable; No More Silence, Act Now!”

Every day, 16 Malawian women die due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth. The new Road Map provides strategies that will reduce these numbers and ensure that women go through pregnancy, childbirth and post-delivery safely, while also ensuring that their babies are alive and healthy.

Speaking on behalf of the United Nations family in Malawi, Ms. Esperance Fundira, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative said, “Pregnancy and childbirth are supposed to be joyful occasions. For many mothers in Malawi, they turn into a very sad occasion that tears families apart. Too many women are dying giving life, and that is unacceptable, particularly when we know how to prevent it.”

Malawi has one of the highest levels of maternal deaths in the world. According to the ‘2004 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey’, the maternal mortality rate is 984 out of every 100,000 live births. This adds up to 6,000 maternal deaths a year. Globally 529,000 women die every year in pregnancy or birth, according to estimates by UNFPA, WHO and UNICEF.

The Malawi Road Map highlights strategies including access to contraception to avoid unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions, skilled attendance at births, functional referral systems, timely and quality emergency obstetric and infant care. The Road Map also promotes community empowerment and action to reduce maternal and infant deaths.

“The Road Map demonstrates the Government of Malawi’s commitment to international agreements, particularly the Maputo Plan of Action of September 2006. Here, 48 countries in Africa unanimously agreed to ensure maternal health and universal access to reproductive health”, said Ms. Fundira.

Successful implementation of the Road Map will enable Malawi to attain Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 to reduce maternal and child deaths.

Pilot implementation of the Road Map has already started at national and district levels.

UNFPA, WHO and UNICEF have provided financial and technical support for the development of the Road Map. The United Nations and development partners will continue to support the Government of Malawi and other countries throughout Africa in their implementation of national Road Maps to reduce maternal and infant death.

Malawi’s Minister of Health, Marjorie Ngaunje, launched the Road Map at a ceremony in Lilongwe. The launch was held during the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Health Ministers meeting and attended by officials from the United Nations, donors and other development partners.

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Contact Information:

Dorothy Lazaro, UNFPA Malawi, Tel: +265 8 835 788, lazaro@unfpa.org

Angela Walker, UNFPA Regional Information Advisor, Tel: +221 508 0745, awalker@unfpa.org