Malawi targets fewer child deaths

Malawi is pushing to save more children under five as concerns emerge over factors that continue to put young lives at risk. The country has made significant progress in reducing child deaths since 1990, but health officials say more needs to be done to protect children from preventable deaths. Director for the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood, Ethel Kapyepye, said Malawi is targeting a further reduction in under-five mortality from the current 38 deaths per 1,000 live births to 24 by 2030. She said harmful beliefs, delayed health-seeking, malnutrition and caregiver behaviour remain among the issues requiring attention. “We thank MUBAS and World Vision for the research. It has identified areas which need government to work on, such as health-seeking behaviours, malnutrition, and the attitudes and behaviours of caregivers,” Kapyepye said. Kapyepye was speaking on Friday on the sidelines of a research dissemination exercise by the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), conducted with support from World Vision Malawi. She said the research findings come at an important time as Malawi moves towards universal health coverage. “As the country is moving towards universal health coverage, we have areas to be worked on, among which is the issue of children,” she said. Malawi’s under-five mortality rate has fallen from more than 300 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to the current reported rate of 38. World Vision Malawi Director of Operations Charles Chimombo said the findings could help government and development partners design interventions targeting causes of child deaths within communities. Acting Head of the Research Division at the Public Health Institute of Malawi, Chikondi Chimbatata, urged government and development partners to turn research findings into practical interventions that can strengthen healthcare delivery and support the country’s universal health coverage targets towards 2030. The research examined health-seeking behaviours among caregivers, focusing on their experiences, perspectives and practices when deciding whether and when to seek healthcare for children under five who become sick. The country has made significant progress in reducing child deaths since 1990, but health officials say more needs to be done to protect children from preventable deaths. Director for the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood, Ethel Kapyepye, said Malawi is targeting a further reduction in under-five mortality from the current 38 deaths per 1,000 live births to 24 by 2030. She said harmful beliefs, delayed health-seeking, malnutrition and caregiver behaviour remain among the issues requiring attention. “We thank MUBAS and World Vision for the research. It has identified areas which need government to work on, such as health-seeking behaviours, malnutrition, and the attitudes and behaviours of caregivers,” Kapyepye said. Kapyepye was speaking on Friday on the sidelines of a research dissemination exercise by the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), conducted with support from World Vision Malawi. She said the research findings come at an important time as Malawi moves towards universal health coverage. “As the country is moving towards universal health coverage, we have areas to be worked on, among which is the issue of children,” she said. Malawi’s under-five mortality rate has fallen from more than 300 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to the current reported rate of 38. World Vision Malawi Director of Operations Charles Chimombo said the findings could help government and development partners design interventions targeting causes of child deaths within communities. Acting Head of the Research Division at the Public Health Institute of Malawi, Chikondi Chimbatata, urged government and development partners to turn research findings into practical interventions that can strengthen healthcare delivery and support the country’s universal health coverage targets towards 2030. The research examined health-seeking behaviours among caregivers, focusing on their experiences, perspectives and practices when deciding whether and when to seek healthcare for children under five who become sick.