Visit to Mangochi

Visit to Mangochi, Representing the Nurses Council (NMCM)

24^th to 26^th September 2013

Attended a consultative meeting in Mangochi, on behalf of Nurses Council, the trip was funded by UNICEF & Save the Children.  A three and half hour journey, stayed at a nice holiday resort ‘Sun ‘N’ Sand holiday resort for four nights.  

Subject matter: “Every Newborn Action Plan – Consultative meeting”

The Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) is a push to end preventable deaths in the newborn a roadmap for change. Focusing on the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s health, specifically addressing the newborn, to improve their well-being (health and development), and survival rate.  The Focus is on high-burden countries to gain better understanding of the issues relating to specific bottlenecks for interventions. Policymakers and program managers to take action to hasten progress prior to the target date of 2035.

The ENAP builds on the recommendations of Committing to Child Survival (CCS): A Promise Renewed for Child Survival (APR), this will contribute towards the APR target of 20 or less under-five deaths per 1,000 live births in each country by 2035. The plan is part of the recommendations of the United Nations Commission of Lifesaving Commodities for Women’s and Children’s Health, the goals for the Family Planning initiative and the United Nations Commission on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s health.

The Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) aims to reduce neonatal deaths globally.  However, the Malawi rate of neonatal deaths is extremely high; this is because infant mortality in Malawi is not seen as a priority in comparison to maternal deaths. Maternal mortality on the other hand is a major priority, high on both the political, and health agendas. To the credit of Malawi, Malawi has successfully reduced the number of maternal deaths in the country; the figure continues to go down. This is due to the numerous government and non-government initiatives and interventions that are currently in place in Malawi.

The Newborn Action Plan (NAP) to reduce the bottleneck that cause pre-term/ neonatal deaths in Malawi, addressing the high neonatal morbidity and mortality rate, which is apparent in Malawi. The NAP also wants to alleviate and change mindset attitudes towards the death of a neonate, putting it on same the stratum as maternal deaths. The NAP will be an enormous challenge for Malawians, and will naturally confront attitudes of Malawians not only to see maternal death as a priority, but also to include the death of the newborn as one and not as two separate entities. Both should hold equal importance. Currently, neonatal deaths are lugging behind on the political agenda. The recommendations set by the United Nations (Commissions on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health), will and should in essence reduce the number of pre-term deaths in Malawi, and worldwide, particularly, in third world countries where they face numerous challenges.

Malawi’s challenge is not uncommon with many third world countries, also facing similar challenges of limited public funds, lack of resources, poor leadership, lack of essential life-saving equipments, drugs, poorly equipped hospitals, more so in the rural areas; inadequate/inexperience trained personnel to carry out the work.

The consultative meeting brought together a number of professionals; group work, presentations and final putting together an action plan for Malawi.

See photos