Malawi needs K54bn to scale up family planning
Malawi needs $140 million (about K54 billion) to scale up provision of family planning services which are crucial to improve the low 42 percent contraceptive uptake level and reduce the high fertility rate.
If resources are not found to increase the services across the country, Malawi risks facing daunting challenges to provide education and health services to its citizens when the country’s population grows to about 40.6 million in 2040.
In an outline issued last week, Ministry of Health maternal and neonatal health specialist Diana Khonje described the country’s high fertility rate as stubborn, especially in rural areas which account for about 83 percent of the country’s nearly 15 million population.
“The cost of family planning services between 2011 and 2015 is pegged at $140 million [about K54 billion]. This money is meant for capacity building for service delivery, advocacy for creation of demand for the services and community based distribution (CBD) programmes,” said Khonje.
She said family planning is crucial considering the continued high pregnancy rate among teenagers in the country. One out of every four teenage girls begin childbearing.
“There are challenges relating to contraceptive security issues. Financing of family planning services is heavily subsidised and there are also issues of inadequate health personnel to provide the services,” said Khonje.
In an interview this week, Parliamentary Health and Population Committee chairperson Paul Chibingu said his committee is working with chairpersons of other committees of Parliament to ensure that government allocates enough resources for family planning services and products.
