Maternal Mortality Rate Drops to 380 in Malawi

Health authorities say Malawi has successfully reduced its maternal mortality rate from over 400 to around 380 deaths per 100,000 pregnant women in 2024.

Bwaila hospital senior nursing officer, Chikondi Mkandawire Undi, disclosed this today at Bwaila hospital when the minister of health from Liberia paid a learning visit to appreciate best practices that have contributed to the reduction of maternal deaths in the country.

Undi cited that the main purpose of the visit of the Minister from Liberia was to appreciate what the facility is doing in terms of reducing maternal as well as neonatal mortality rate, and also to learn from what they are doing, especially the practices that they are implementing.

“As of this year, the current status right now, it’s around 381. That’s right now in this year of 2024, so it means we have reduced from 400 something, to this state. So that’s why they got alarmed to see what have our friends done in their facility as well as the country, to reduce the maternal rate from that level to this state that we are in,” explained Undi.

She says, despite this progress, Malawi still faces challenges such as inadequate resources, inconsistent supply of essential equipment and medicines, and a shortage of healthcare personnel.

“Inconsistent supply of the essential equipment as well as medicines that we may need to proceed in taking care of the mothers that have health issues in connection with their status. Yeah, as well as the work overload is too much. The human resource is not enough. We do not have enough nurses, midwives to take care of mothers. We do have enough mothers that come here.”

She added that “In a month, at times, we deliver close to around 2,000 something babies. And in 24 hours, at times, we reach up to 80. That’s against 10 midwives. So, for them to provide that comprehensive care is a challenge. But we are still trying our best at least to provide that care at least of that standard so that the mothers should have the well-baby, and the mother should be fine as well.”

The visiting minister, Dr Louise M Kpoto hopes to implement strategies learned from Malawi to improve maternal health services and lower maternal mortality rates in Liberia.

“We have a high maternal mortality. So, I’ve asked the honorable minister to allow me to come here, see some of the best practices that has been in place in this country for my country also to improve upon.” Kpoto explained.

Kpoto added that she has “observed that there’s a high volume of patients and yet and still they have a good referral system, and it manages these patients. I also observed that they have a NICU that is managed very well, and they have everything that is needed for the NICU to be functional.”

Malawi is said to be among the best countries in Africa with low maternal mortality rate.