Presidential adviser on Safe Motherhood Dorothy Ngoma has urged faith leaders in Nkhata Bay District to encourage their members to access family planning services, undergo cervical cancer screening and deliver in healthcare centres.

She said this on Wednesday after engaging stakeholders in the district on safe motherhood.

Ngoma said: “Government wants to reduce maternal deaths. We are engaging faith leaders because they are trusted and accepted in communities. As such, we are confident that they will relay the message to their members.”

Banda: We face logistical challenges

Nkhata Bay district safe motherhood coordinator Abraham Banda said many women and girls do not go for cervical cancer screening in the district, which increases the risk of maternal deaths.

“We also want pregnant women to start attending antenatal services and report to hospital early when delivery time is approaching,” he said.

However, Banda asked government to help the district hospital address logistical challenges, saying they recorded 10 maternal deaths in 2019 due to shortage of ambulances.

“However, after maintenance of some ambulances, maternal deaths reduced to four in 2020 only to rise to nine in 2021 after the ambulances broke down again,” he said.

Ngoma assured Banda that she will take the message to President Lazarus Chakwera to address the challenges.

Nkhata Bay District Interfaith Aids Association secretary Pastor Christopher Gondwe said the clergy realises the importance of healthy communities to the country’s development. 

“We will encourage women to attend antenatal services to avert maternal deaths,” he said.

Nkhata Bay resident Emma Msuku urged fellow girls to access family planning services to prevent unplanned pregnancies.

“Empowering youths to access family planning services will ensure they don’t become pregnant at a tender age, which increases the risk of birth complications and maternal deaths,” she said.

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