The Parliamentary Women’s Caucus has on Tuesday engaged health-sector officials over challenges affecting maternal and neonatal care, calling for more health workers, ambulances and improved hospital infrastructure.

The Tuesday engagement brought together officials from district and central hospitals to assess progress and gaps in implementing maternal and neonatal health policies.

The Caucus chairperson, Mary Maulidi Khembo, said shortages of health workers, hospital congestion and inadequate ambulances are contributing to delays in emergency referrals and putting mothers and newborns at risk.

Maulidi Khembo hinted that the caucus would present a report to Parliament and engage the Ministry of Health on recruitment, while lobbying for Constituency Development Fund support for additional ambulances at district hospitals.

Malawi Health Equity Network Director, George Jobe, said Malawi had made progress between 2013 and 2024, but continue to lose mothers and newborns at unacceptable levels.

He called for timely, reliable health data to guide policy, urging greater access to emergency contraception and community awareness to help reduce unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions.

Mzuzu Central Hospital Director General, Dr. Doris Kayambo, said the facility, built with only three maternity beds, now delivers between 10 and 15 women daily, forcing some mothers to give birth on the floor, citing severe shortages of medicines and specialist staff in the northern region.

The caucus says the findings will inform parliamentary action during the October budget review.

Aspolo Mousah – Staff Reporter, Lilongwe