Women deliver conference, london
Unsafe abortion has the highest impact in developing countries whose citizens lack widespread access to high-quality medical care. The risk of death from unsafe abortion is higher in Africa than any other region: nearly half of global maternal deaths related to abortion occur here - Marie Stopes International
Recent reports have indicated that the situation in Malawi has become a concern. Approximately 900 to 1,000 maternal deaths occur for every 100,000 live births, a significant increase from the year 1992. A high percentage of the deaths are related to unsafe abortions.
According to (IPAS) Alliance for Africa, "incomplete abortions caused largely as a result of unsafe abortions are the most common reasons for admission to gynecological wards in Malawi".
In his speech at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994 the former Vic President of Malawi, Honorable Justine Malewezi said despite the criminalization of abortion in Malawi, nearly 35% of all maternal deaths are due to induced abortions, translating into an increasing rate of clandestine and back-door abortions. He added that unsafe abortions account for 60% of all acute gynecological admissions and is responsible for 30% of maternal deaths.
To address the rate of maternal mortality and other issues that marginalize women, a special Law Commission was appointed under the section 133 of the Constitution to review gender-related laws in Malawi.
The commission has since produced a 3rd report in draft form on the development of legislation on gender equality which was extensively discussed with civil society and other interested parties at a national consultative meeting in September this year.
According to the findings of the commission, recent statistics show that; "the central hospitals in Malawi are attending to high numbers of women seeking post abortion care".
The commission report also states that between the year 1999 and early 2006 Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe registered 2,384 women seeking post abortion care. Queen Elisabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre registered 3,178 cases and Zomba Central Hospital registered 1,239 cases.
One of the largest referral hospitals in Malawi, QECH receives an estimated 15 -20 gynecology cases on a daily basis; 50% of the cases relate to abortion complications.
Despite abortion being a crime that carries a stiff prison sentence for both provider and women seeking abortion, some statistics report that nearly 35% of all maternal deaths are due to induced terminations by clandestine back street providers. These abortions are often carried out in unhygienic conditions, using un-sterlised equipment and dangerous objects.
The commission report states that it (the commission) observed that the provisions of the Penal Code 120 in respect of abortion brought into force in 1930 are overly restrictive and inconsistent with the spirit of the Reproductive Health Policy of the country, as well as several international conventions to which Malawi is signatory.
"Malawi has ratified the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the rights of women in Africa which has progressive provisions on women's reproductive health rights. Further, women are entitled to reproductive health that includes entitlement to medical abortion.
The Protocol to the African Charter also provides the removal of the liability for women who seek, and providers who perform abortions; and for the clarification of the requirements for health facilities offering pregnancy termination. In addition, the Protocol to the African Charter obliges State Parties to protect reproductive rights of women by authorizing medical abortion in the cases of sexual assault, rape, incest and where the mental and physical health of the mother or foetus is endangered," the report states.
Malawi is also signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which obliges the country to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination in the field of healthcare including those related to family planning.
Under the Maputo Plan of Action agreed by African Ministers for health as well as high level representatives of the African Union, for the implementation of the Continental Policy Framework for Sexual and Reproductive Rights 2007-2010 to which Malawi has signed, government is bound to reduce the incidents of unsafe abortion.
Part of the strategy in the plan of action for fulfilling this obligation includes enacting policies and legal frameworks to reduce the incidence of unsafe abortions.
Malawi, through Dr. Chisale Mhango , Director for the Reproductive Health Unit in the ministry of health was significantly involved in the development of the Plan of Action.
Monday, 31 December 2007
Invest in Women - It Pays
Women Deliver conference, London
Although the work of the women remains mainly unrecognized and unpaid for, making sure that she remains healthy by investing in her wellbeing will benefit her entire family, the community and ultimately, the nation.
It has been reported that women's unpaid work doing household chores, caring for her own and other members of the extended family and contributing much of her time working in the fields equals about a third of the world's gross national product.
Being the pivotal center of the family a healthy woman will continue to provide for a secure environment for her children to grow and develop into adults who will eventually play their rightful role in society.
The return on investment in women is often not seen immediately but is evident in the long run.
The women who provide care for the family are often in the age group of 15 to 49. This is the same age group that is of child bearing age, having babies and seriously affected by the high maternal mortality in Malawi.
Investing in the reproductive health services for women who are child bearing age is investing in the nation as a whole. Effectively this is putting your money where you can obtain the best possible return.
Investing in women has a positive return in all spheres of life and providing good, accessible and affordable reproductive health care is essential to the progress and development of the family, and ultimately the country
Let's look at a day in the life of Nambewe who lives in a village that is situated many kilometers away from the city of Lilongwe.
At the age of 25, she is six months pregnant with her fourth child. She is unwell because of the malaria she had previously that caused her to have anemia. Although she is feeling unwell, she cannot rest because the work of caring for her family must continue. The demands on her are great.
Nambewe can't take time out from her daily chores to go to the clinic because it takes the whole day to get there, get treatment and return before dark. Last time she went, there were so many other women, she was unable to see a nurse before closing time and had to return to the clinic the next day to try her luck once again.
Sometimes there are no drugs at the clinic and she only gets her medication at the next visit. Nambewe knows that she has to get to the clinic for her iron tablets to increase the efficiency of her blood but cannot afford to be away from home for such long periods.
With all the problems associated with attempting to reach the clinic to access treatment, she is discouraged ad puts it off until another time. Meanwhile she continues to work and get sicker.
She cares for her family, works in the field to get food and sells any excess vegetables for cash to buy other things for the family. She is also able to pay for the school uniforms and books for her son and daughter. Because she is not monitored and given treatment when required, the chances of Nambewe having a problem free delivery is very slim. The probability is that she will have complications during delivery, have an under-weight baby or lose either the baby or even her own life.
Providing accessible and affordable reproductive services for women like Nambewe who lives in remote areas is absolutely essential.
Reproductive health services can save the lives of women who are in the productive years of their lives. These services are essential to making sure that women do not die from preventable causes during pregnancy.
Although the work of the women remains mainly unrecognized and unpaid for, making sure that she remains healthy by investing in her wellbeing will benefit her entire family, the community and ultimately, the nation.
It has been reported that women's unpaid work doing household chores, caring for her own and other members of the extended family and contributing much of her time working in the fields equals about a third of the world's gross national product.
Being the pivotal center of the family a healthy woman will continue to provide for a secure environment for her children to grow and develop into adults who will eventually play their rightful role in society.
The return on investment in women is often not seen immediately but is evident in the long run.
The women who provide care for the family are often in the age group of 15 to 49. This is the same age group that is of child bearing age, having babies and seriously affected by the high maternal mortality in Malawi.
Investing in the reproductive health services for women who are child bearing age is investing in the nation as a whole. Effectively this is putting your money where you can obtain the best possible return.
Investing in women has a positive return in all spheres of life and providing good, accessible and affordable reproductive health care is essential to the progress and development of the family, and ultimately the country
Let's look at a day in the life of Nambewe who lives in a village that is situated many kilometers away from the city of Lilongwe.
At the age of 25, she is six months pregnant with her fourth child. She is unwell because of the malaria she had previously that caused her to have anemia. Although she is feeling unwell, she cannot rest because the work of caring for her family must continue. The demands on her are great.
Nambewe can't take time out from her daily chores to go to the clinic because it takes the whole day to get there, get treatment and return before dark. Last time she went, there were so many other women, she was unable to see a nurse before closing time and had to return to the clinic the next day to try her luck once again.
Sometimes there are no drugs at the clinic and she only gets her medication at the next visit. Nambewe knows that she has to get to the clinic for her iron tablets to increase the efficiency of her blood but cannot afford to be away from home for such long periods.
With all the problems associated with attempting to reach the clinic to access treatment, she is discouraged ad puts it off until another time. Meanwhile she continues to work and get sicker.
She cares for her family, works in the field to get food and sells any excess vegetables for cash to buy other things for the family. She is also able to pay for the school uniforms and books for her son and daughter. Because she is not monitored and given treatment when required, the chances of Nambewe having a problem free delivery is very slim. The probability is that she will have complications during delivery, have an under-weight baby or lose either the baby or even her own life.
Providing accessible and affordable reproductive services for women like Nambewe who lives in remote areas is absolutely essential.
Reproductive health services can save the lives of women who are in the productive years of their lives. These services are essential to making sure that women do not die from preventable causes during pregnancy.
SolarAid
Sometime ago we wrote about the The Light Up The World Foundation (LUTW), an international humanitarian organization that utilizes solid-state lighting technologies to bring affordable, safe, healthy, efficient, and environmentally responsible lighting to people currently without access to proper lighting.
It is very important to couple the efforts towards sustainable energy with efforts to help the world’s poor so we were happy to find out about the work carried out by SolarAid, an organization that aims to enable the world’s poorest people to have clean, renewable power. Solar power leads to better education, health, safety and income by allowing poor communities to cook, pump water, run fridges, store vaccines, light homes, schools, clinics and businesses, power computers and homes, farm more effectively, and much more.
According to SolarAid, “By replacing carbon emitting technologies, solar power can mitigate global warming. For example, the average kerosene lamp, used widely across the developing world, creates around a tonne of carbon over seven years. Replacing such lamps with solar lanterns will lead to significant reductions in carbon emissions.”
The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, recently hosted a SolarAid launch at the City Hall’s Living Room. On the occasion the organization showed a video featuring its patron, actress Cate Blanchett, showing the latest work in Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and South America.
Now, if you had been thinking about doing charity work, here’s a chance: SolarAid is currently looking for two volunteers to work in the Mzuzu region of northern Malawi for a period of two years. The volunteers will be based at the Centre of Appropriate Technology (CAT) and will help SolarAid implement a new microsolar programme in the region. For further information, go here.
It is very important to couple the efforts towards sustainable energy with efforts to help the world’s poor so we were happy to find out about the work carried out by SolarAid, an organization that aims to enable the world’s poorest people to have clean, renewable power. Solar power leads to better education, health, safety and income by allowing poor communities to cook, pump water, run fridges, store vaccines, light homes, schools, clinics and businesses, power computers and homes, farm more effectively, and much more.
According to SolarAid, “By replacing carbon emitting technologies, solar power can mitigate global warming. For example, the average kerosene lamp, used widely across the developing world, creates around a tonne of carbon over seven years. Replacing such lamps with solar lanterns will lead to significant reductions in carbon emissions.”
The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, recently hosted a SolarAid launch at the City Hall’s Living Room. On the occasion the organization showed a video featuring its patron, actress Cate Blanchett, showing the latest work in Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and South America.
Now, if you had been thinking about doing charity work, here’s a chance: SolarAid is currently looking for two volunteers to work in the Mzuzu region of northern Malawi for a period of two years. The volunteers will be based at the Centre of Appropriate Technology (CAT) and will help SolarAid implement a new microsolar programme in the region. For further information, go here.
China: Beijing ready to fund Mozambique-Malawi canal
Lilongwe, Malawi, 31 Dec - China has offered to finance the building of a shipping canal between Malawi and Mozambique to give the landlocked African state access to Indian Ocean ports, media in Malawi have reported.
Citing Malawi government officials, the Nyasa Times reported Friday that the project involved the building of a canal to link the Shire and Zambezi rivers as part of a US$ 6 billion investment by Beijing.
Malawi’s ministers of energy and presidential affairs are presently in Beijing to sign a cooperation accord on the canal scheme, as well as projects including the building of universities and a fertilizer factory, the report added.
The Shire-Zambezi canal project, with an initial budget of US$ 6 billion, is intended to link Malawi’s river port of Nsanje to Chinde in Mozambique. The ambitious canal link has been promoted by the Malawi authorizes for a number of years and been branded a “priority regional infrastructure project” by the Southern African Development Community (SADC). (macauhub)
Citing Malawi government officials, the Nyasa Times reported Friday that the project involved the building of a canal to link the Shire and Zambezi rivers as part of a US$ 6 billion investment by Beijing.
Malawi’s ministers of energy and presidential affairs are presently in Beijing to sign a cooperation accord on the canal scheme, as well as projects including the building of universities and a fertilizer factory, the report added.
The Shire-Zambezi canal project, with an initial budget of US$ 6 billion, is intended to link Malawi’s river port of Nsanje to Chinde in Mozambique. The ambitious canal link has been promoted by the Malawi authorizes for a number of years and been branded a “priority regional infrastructure project” by the Southern African Development Community (SADC). (macauhub)
Local surgeon helping African country deal with disease and poverty
Christmas is a season for giving and residents of this province are renowned for their generosity, but one local physician wants people to consider one worthy cause in particular.
Last May, Dr. Scott MacKenzie spent two and a half weeks working with an organization called Lifeline Malawi, an independent Canadian humanitarian medical relief and development association founded and headquartered in Calgary.
The Corner Brook general surgeon had done part of his surgical training in Durban, South Africa, and had travelled throughout the southern parts of Africa before. When he looked into finding an organization to volunteer for, something about the landlocked south-central African country of Malawi beckoned him to join this particular group.
“A friend told me about Lifeline Malawi and it just caught my attention and interest,” said MacKenzie. “It was also important for me to know what kind of organization I was being associated with because I wouldn’t want to go all that way to find out they weren’t doing a very good job over there.
“Fortunately, I think they are doing a good job and really making a difference.”
MacKenzie said non-governmental organizations such as Lifeline Malawi are integral parts of the economies of some African countries. However, financial contributions don’t always find their way to where they can do the most help and sometimes don’t get to the agencies at all. He said he can attest to the fact Lifeline Malawi is making great strides in a primitive part of the country that has been ravaged by the rampant spread of HIV/AIDS, as well as malnutrition, malaria and tuberculosis and the tropical diseases common to the region.
Since founder Dr. Chris Brooks, a family physician from Calgary, opened the first medical clinic underneath a huge baobab tree in 1998, Lifeline Malawi has since blossomed into a full medical complex and has expanded to other sites in the region.
The organization also trains local community leaders to help teach people about the diseases that affect them and how to protect themselves from getting sick.
“When I was there, the clinics were seeing hundreds of people a day,” said MacKenzie.
“I myself was seeing maybe 50 or 60 a day. I saw a lot of kids with malaria, which is a very treatable disease, but there is still a real lack of clinics and medications to treat these people. And the people that really suffer are the children. There is a lot of death occurring in Malawi related to malaria, which is unfortunate.” The HIV/AIDS epidemic is also a serious issue in the rural part of Malawi the agency serves. While 14 per cent of the country’s entire population is HIV positive, that rate jumps to nearly 30 per cent locally.
MacKenzie said Lifeline Malawi is proactive in educating people about HIV and AIDS, both from a prevention standpoint and the perspective of advising people who have been diagnosed.
“Tuberculosis is also a big issue since people are more prone to that disease when their immune systems get beaten down by HIV,” he noted.
When people consider donating to charity, MacKenzie asked them to consider a worthy charity like Lifeline Malawi.
“It’s a privilege to be able to help these people out,” he said. “There are so many sick kids and the mothers and fathers who bring in their sick children love their kids the same way we love ours. But it’s hard because often things don’t turn out very well for them because of the lack of facilities.
“It’s not all doom and gloom, though. These people are wonderfully warm people willing to help each other and Lifeline Malawi is trying to help them stand up to their problems and really make a difference.”
For more information, visit www.lifelinemalawi.com.
More kids in school, fewer people dying from HIV, consistent economic growth in Africa - Happy New Year from Oxfam!
Four million more children are in school than last year, and 48 million more than eight years ago, when Oxfam launched its education campaign.
More than a million people are receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS as a result of grants worth nearly $9bn dispensed by the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria over the last 7 years. *
Over 200,000 children's lives may have been saved by the provision of 30 million mosquito bed nets by the same organisation.
Since 1999, poor countries receiving debt cancellation have more than doubled the amount they are spending on fighting poverty.
These are just some of the examples from a list of Reasons To Feel Good, compiled by the international agency Oxfam to mark the beginning of a new year.
They are evidence that the aid and debt relief, fought so hard for by Make Poverty History campaigners in 2005, is making a big difference.
Oxfam Policy Advisor, Max Lawson, said: "There is so much ill-informed opinion and unjustified scepticism about aid. Of course there is a long way to go but these figures show what a difference we can make when we work together.
"I was in Malawi recently and saw how over 130,000 people with HIV/AIDS are now receiving treatment, up from virtually none when I lived there just five years ago. I met people who would be dead now if it were not for the work of organisations like Oxfam, and the campaigning efforts of millions of people around the world."
Oxfam's analysis shows how debt cancellation agreed at the G8 in Gleneagles in 2005 is paying for new teachers and health workers in Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and many other countries.
Similarly, the scale of the distribution of life-saving medicines by the Global Fund has in part been made possible by a relaxation of international patent rules following tireless campaigning by non-governmental organisations and pressure groups.
Oxfam's Director, Barbara Stocking said: "All too often we spend our time dwelling on what we have failed to achieve, and the huge mountain that needs to be climbed, but it is important to stop sometimes and notice that progress is possible, and is happening.
"Oxfam would like to say thank you to all the people who supported our work in 2007, whether through campaigning, volunteering, or giving money, but most of all through believing that change is possible."
More than a million people are receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS as a result of grants worth nearly $9bn dispensed by the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria over the last 7 years. *
Over 200,000 children's lives may have been saved by the provision of 30 million mosquito bed nets by the same organisation.
Since 1999, poor countries receiving debt cancellation have more than doubled the amount they are spending on fighting poverty.
These are just some of the examples from a list of Reasons To Feel Good, compiled by the international agency Oxfam to mark the beginning of a new year.
They are evidence that the aid and debt relief, fought so hard for by Make Poverty History campaigners in 2005, is making a big difference.
Oxfam Policy Advisor, Max Lawson, said: "There is so much ill-informed opinion and unjustified scepticism about aid. Of course there is a long way to go but these figures show what a difference we can make when we work together.
"I was in Malawi recently and saw how over 130,000 people with HIV/AIDS are now receiving treatment, up from virtually none when I lived there just five years ago. I met people who would be dead now if it were not for the work of organisations like Oxfam, and the campaigning efforts of millions of people around the world."
Oxfam's analysis shows how debt cancellation agreed at the G8 in Gleneagles in 2005 is paying for new teachers and health workers in Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and many other countries.
Similarly, the scale of the distribution of life-saving medicines by the Global Fund has in part been made possible by a relaxation of international patent rules following tireless campaigning by non-governmental organisations and pressure groups.
Oxfam's Director, Barbara Stocking said: "All too often we spend our time dwelling on what we have failed to achieve, and the huge mountain that needs to be climbed, but it is important to stop sometimes and notice that progress is possible, and is happening.
"Oxfam would like to say thank you to all the people who supported our work in 2007, whether through campaigning, volunteering, or giving money, but most of all through believing that change is possible."
Madge hunt for girl in Cambodia
POP queen MADONNA wants to adopt a girl from CAMBODIA, The Sun can reveal.
The millionaire singer, 49, and husband GUY RITCHIE, 39, have sent aides to scour the poor Asian country for a new daughter.
Madonna chose Cambodia after being impressed by ANGELINA JOLIE’s adoption of Maddox, six, from the country in 2002.
She was also frustrated by the red tape involved in her adoption of two-year-old Malawi youngster David Banda. That adoption is still waiting to be formalised.
Madonna also has a daughter Lourdes, 11, by fitness trainer Carlos Leon and seven-year-old son Rocco by Guy.
Her latest adoption bid comes after a social worker praised her for being a model mum to David.
Social welfare officer Simon Chisale said the tot “had bonded well with the Ritchies” and that it will not be “in the best interest of David” to be taken away from his new life.
Mr Chisale also witnessed how David enjoyed a happy and relaxed relationship with Madonna and Guy and “enjoyed being cuddled”.
His relationship with Guy was particularly noted as being “warm, playful interaction”, whilst Madonna was seen as a “confident and able parent”.
His report clears the way for the adoption of David to officially go through possibly by next April.
Madonna originally looked at Malawi for a girl. But a pal said: “Malawi is bound up in red tape and she hopes that Cambodia will be easier.”
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