Rapid population growth has been singled out as one of the challenges that are continuing to choke the delivery of health services across the country.
Malawi’s total population was 20.66 million in January 2023. Data shows that Malawi’s population increased by 518 thousand (+2.6 percent) between 2022 and 2023. 51.4 percent of Malawi’s population is female, while 48.6 percent of the population is male.
The observations follow concerns that most women in rural areas are not being reached out with cervical cancer screening services.
In an interview with MIJ Online – Dorothy Ngoma – Presidential Advisor on Safe Motherhood – has blamed the development on rapid population growth.
This rapid population — in Ngomas view – is putting too much pressure on the few resources the health sector has, especially in the rural areas.
Ngoma has therefore called for the intensification of awareness campaigns in family planning methods, so as to keep in check this rapid population growth.