No baby, pregnant mother should die before their time—Minister

Minister of Health Peter kumpalumeme has challenged health workers in the country to do their best to ensure that no pregnant mother or baby go to an early grave.

Kumpalume made the remarks on Sunday in his speech at a non-technical skills training of medical personnel (midwives, doctors and obstetricians) at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre being conducted under the Wirral-Malawi Partnership for Maternal Health Programme.

“We are in the business of saving lives and when we fail, we send people to their early graves. As such it is imperative for us to search ourselves if we are doing our best not to send people to their graves. Of course, not all deaths can be prevented, but most can surely be prevented,” he said. Speaking in an interview later, Kumpalume said reducing maternal mortality needs coordinated efforts in health facilities through teamwork.

One of the trainers, Dr. Mark Doyle, an obstetrician and gynaecologist from Wirral University Teaching Hospital, said in an interview the main aim of the Wirral-Malawi partnership is to deliver teaching in care of women in pregnancy to prevent complications of childbirth. n