United Nations
Office of the UN Resident Coordinator – MALAWI
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PRESS RELEASE
Malawi launches Road Map to prevent women from dying while giving life
Strong UN support to Malawi’s efforts to combat maternal and infant death
During the launch of Africa’s first maternal mortality Road Map to tackle maternal and infant deaths in Malawi, the Ministry of Health also unveiled the maternity motorbike ambulances, which will be distributed throughout the country. In the picture are Juliana Lunguzi, UNFPA Programme Officer (on the driver’s seat) and Joyce Mpaya, UNICEF Reproductive Health and HIV and AIDS Unit try
LILONGWE, 30 March 2007 – Malawi is among the first African countries to launch Road Map to combat maternal and infant death, with the theme “Maternal Death is Preventable; No More Silence, Act Now!” The national plan of action is based on 2000 African Union recommendations on development of national Road Maps to accelerate achievement of MDGs related to maternal and newborn health. Other countries, which have recently launched are Lesotho and Tanzania.
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, Maternal Mortality rate is 984 out of every 100,000 live births with 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, Honourable Marjorie Ngaunje M.P., 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.
For more information contact:
UNFPA, Dorothy Lazaro +265 8 835 788, lazaro@unfpa.org
UN Communication Officer, Susan Muguro +265 8 967 991, susan.muguro@undp.org
The United Nations’ mission in Malawi is to support Malawi achieve the Millennium Development Goals and contribute to equitable economic growth and poverty reduction by strengthening systems of accountability and the delivery of quality social services to every woman, man and child.