Senior chiefs ask Germany govt to extend programme
Some senior chiefs in the Southern Region have pleaded with Germany to continue supporting government-owned Results-Based Financing for Maternal and Neonatal Health (RBF4MNH) programme.
RBF4MNH is a Malawi government programme financed by Germany and Royal Norwegian governments to enhance quality of care, increasing institutional deliveries and improve infrastructure development.
have gone down
The chiefs—Paramount Chief Kawinga of Machinga and senior chiefs Chikumbu and Mphuka of Mulanje—touted the RBF4MNH programme as having reduced maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity rates in some districts.
Kawinga said due to high illiteracy and poverty levels, Machinga has high incidences of maternal and newborn deaths, and therefore, the results-based financing programme could help reduce the rates.
“We need the programme to be extended to all districts that have high maternal and newborn deaths,” he said.
Senior Chief Mphuka said the reduction in maternal and neonatal deaths in the districts the programme is being implemented should be replicated nationwide regardless of the cost.
In an interview, Principal Secretary for Health Dan Namarika said government is looking at the possibility of extending the programme to other districts. n
