Malawi – as per the findings of USAID – has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios globally.
As at present, these maternal deaths are, for instance, estimated at 5.7 per 1,000 live births.
But just some four years ago, this maternal mortality rate was 381.00, a 2.97%, an increase from 2019, when it was 370.00.
This though was a 5.61% decline from 2018, when maternal mortality rate was 392.00.
Among the major causes of these deaths is severe bleeding, mostly bleeding after childbirth, as well as complications from delivery.
On the other hand, infant mortality rate has over the past few years, witnessed a remarkable decline the country.
For instance, in the year 2023, the rate was at 32.6 deaths per 1000 live births in the country. This was a 5.1 percent decline from 2022, which was at 34.3 deaths per 1000 live births.
This too, was 4.85 percent decline from the 2021 rate.
Unfortunately, as government and its partners are employing all the necessary measures to ensure that both infant and maternal deaths are reduced in the country, the campaign is facing some man-made obstacles.
Among these challenges are those being perpetuated by some religious leaders, who are supposed to be in the forefront of dealing with these avoidable deaths.
Among these obstacles, is the one that has seen some church leaders denying their flock an opportunity to give birth under professional medical hands that is only found in hospitals.
One of the church leaders involved in this malpractice, is the one from Traditional Authority Kapichi in the southern district of Thyolo.
According to our findings, this Pastor, known by his name Namwali, instead, forces pregnant female members for his church to deliver babies right in his church.
One of the women, who were forced to deliver a baby in their church, is a daughter to Mercy Sikaliyoti.
According to Sikaliyoti, her heavily-pregnant daughter was denied an opportunity to deliver her baby at a nearest hospital, on a pretext that Jesus, whilst on earth, never sought any medical help from hospital.
‘’Unfortunately my daughter had to loose the baby in the course of giving birth at the church, this time, under the assistance of the Pastor’s wife and some elderly women of his church’’ Sikaliyoti said.
Dorothy Ngoma, Presidential advisor on safe motherhood, it is unthinkable for an expectant mother to give birth in a church, without any help of a trained health personnel.
Without these health professionals, Ngoma therefore feels the malpractice is a huge threat to the lives of the newly-born babies, and of course pregnant mothers in the church.
While shedding tears, Sikaliyoti has no kind words for the Pastor.
‘’I feel the malpractice by the Pastor deprived Mercy Sikaliyoti of a lifetime experience of carrying her grandchild, only if her daughter was allowed to give birth at a hospital’’ said Ngoma.
As we speak, Group village headman Chingondo of the area, has almost given up in her efforts to convince the Pastor of this church to start allowing his followers to be accessing medical assistance from hospitals.
To her shock, the Village Headman Chingondo has observed that the pastor is still encouraging the sick to seek this help at the church.
Following the Pastors’ insistence to continue stopping his members from accessing medical help from hospitals, Sikalioti is now convinced that it is only government’s intervention that can make the Pastor to stop the malpractice.
Concurring with Sikalioti is the Public Affairs Committee (PAC), which has since condemned the acts of Pastor Namwali, arguing this is a perfect example of using the word of God wrongly.
Therefore, PAC has since demanded an immediate closure of the church, on grounds that it is violating the right to access to health services, a development that is putting the lives of church members at risk.
In support of PAC’s suggestion, is Memory Chisenga, one of the child rights campaigners in the country.
According to Chisenga, closing the church is the only surest way the lives of many innocent unborn babies and pregnant women can be protected.
But what is government doing on the issue?
Khumbize Chiponda Minister of health said that he is disappointed with the story and she has promised to close the church saying it is putting at risk the lives of unborn baby and pregnant mothers.
When all is said and done, it is the wish for Malawi to achieve its 2030 sustainable development goal of 25 deaths per 1,000 live births.
It is also the country’s commitment to reduce the national maternal mortality rate from 439 to 110 per 100,000 by 2030. But for this to be achieved, it is the responsibility of not only government, but every well-meaning Malawian.
