Malawi making strides in attaining MDGs
The 2013/14 Annual Health Sector Performance Report says Malawi has improved towards attaining Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on poverty reduction, improved maternal health and combating HIV and Aids.
However, the report says there are still challenges affecting the sector which, among others, result from unexpected suspension of donor support during the 2013/14 fiscal year due to the looting of public funds, popularly known as Cashgate.
Minister of Health Jean Kalilani, who presided over the report review meeting in Lilongwe yesterday, said a lot of improvement has been done in the health sector compared to where Malawi is coming from.
“During this fiscal year, we reduced child and infant mortality rate, malaria incidences, maternal mortality rate and HIV prevalence,” said Kalilani.
Health Donor Group chairperson Eugene Nyarko said donors will continue to support the health sector as long as there is accountability and transparency starting at district levels.
“It is true that some of the donors have moved out because of Cashgate. However, they are not taking their money away; they are just channelling it into a discrete funding mechanism. That is why the health sector is still getting that support, but not necessarily through the pool,” said Nyarko.
