UNFPA handed over supplies worth $480,000.00 (335million Malawi Kwacha) to support the hospitals in Malawi on maternal health services. The items were procured under the RMNCH project that UNFPA together with Unicef and WHO are implementing in Malawi.
Speaking at the handover event, UNFPA Deputy Representative Dr. Rogaia Abdelrahim appreciated the good working relationship that exists between UNFPA and the Ministry of Health. She commended the efforts that the Ministry of Health is doing to reduce undesirable outcomes related to maternal health such as high maternal mortality. She also appealed to Govenment on the efficient and prudent use of the supplies and equipment. “I would like to appeal to our partners and the users themselves to ensure the equipment is used for their intended purpose and are well looked after and maintained in order to maintain the quality of the Family planning and Maternal Health services”, she said.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Ministry, Dr. Machail Magwira the Secretary for Health commended UNFPA for the timely support towards maternal health services.
“This support is essential in the prevention of maternal and neonatal deaths which are high in our country estimated at 574/100,000 and 29/1000 live births respectively”, he said.
The following items were handover to the Ministry of health at the event:
- 56 Steriliser Steam Pressure
- 56 Haemoglobinometers
- 56 Oxygen Concentrators
- 56 Midwifery kits
- 56 Foot Suction machines
- 28 Labour and delivery beds
- 56 Light operating Mobile machines
- 112 IUCD / Implants insertion and removal kits
- 112 Female sterilisation equipment
- 1000 Midwifery drapes.
RMNCH Project in Malawi
The RMNCH programme aims to improve access and quality of Family planning and Maternal health Services in Malawi through:
- the provision of ambulances in designated health zones;
- Increasing the number of trained health workers on BEmONC
- Increasing the number of trained health workers in modern Family planning methods, Jadelle, Implanon, IUCD, Injectable contraceptives and Condoms;
- Increasing the HF managers trained on Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) process
- MDSR implementation
- Increasing FP utilization through creation of demand for the acceptability and accessibility of modern methods
The project is currently being implemented by other two UN agencies, Unicef and WHO.
