Making motherhood safer in Malawi

Plan training of health workers and birth attendants is helping to protect women and children

May 2011: ”Today I have a baby,” says 24-year-old Stella, proudly. It’s happy news, but Stella has suffered many losses on her journey to motherhood.

Stella has given birth to 4 babies but, tragically, 3 were stillborn. During her fourth pregnancy she was supported by Plan’s safe motherhood volunteers. She gave birth at the Plan-supported Chitedze Health Centre, which serves the communities of Kango and Sankhani in central Malawi.

It was the first time she had used the health centre. In the past, Stella had relied on the traditional birth attendants, who are still favoured by many people in rural Malawi, despite the fact that they often lack skills and knowledge of modern medicine. 

Women and children at risk

Women in Kango and Sankhani rely on untrained traditional birth attendants and have trouble accessing antenatal care and skilled support. 

All too often it is too late to get women to hospital when emergencies happen. Lack of transport causes delays and health centres face shortages of drugs and equipment.

Life-saving training

Working with Lilongwe District Health Office, Plan took on the challenge of making motherhood safer by training 30 health workers from the Chitedze Health Centre in emergency obstetric and newborn care.

Fifty traditional birth attendants were also given specialised training, 30 volunteers were trained to give support to pregnant women, and local leaders were educated to start changing community attitudes to childbirth.

Professional support

More pregnant women are now using services at the health centre, and more babies are being delivered by skilled professionals. In 2010, 97% of pregnant women in the area gave birth at Chitedze Health Centre compared to 50% in 2008. 

The result has been no maternal deaths, newborn deaths or stillbirths in Kango and Sankhani since the project began.

Newborn delight

Stella, who now has a baby boy, wants other women to experience her happiness: “The midwives at Chitedze Health Centre really helped me to have a live baby. I urge all women to go for antenatal care and deliver at the health centre. They will not regret it.”

Health centre workers are also enthusiastic about the project’s success. One commented: “Plan is saving lives, and maternal and newborn deaths will be history if we can all work together.”

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