Malawi reports reduced Childhood deaths

Fewer children are dying in Malawi, more programs are in place ensuring better health, and stronger policies and systems are now alleviating the pandemics of malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV thanks to The Reducing Child Morbidity and Strengthening Health Care Systems Program.

The Management Sciences for Health's Malawi Program has run from 2003–2007 and Wednesday reported a marked reduction in childhood mortality and illness, and a strengthened health system with proven sustainability.

In 2005, UNICEF reported that one out of every eight children in Malawi would not live past their fifth birthday.

It was a nation where maternal mortality was exceptionally high, where HIV & AIDS claimed nearly 80,000 people every year, and where essential health services were not only uncommon, but relatively unseen.

The Malawi Program, funded by USAID, met these challenges by focusing on preventing and managing childhood illnesses, increasing malaria prevention, building local management of health systems, and facilitating the autonomy of two central hospitals.

MSH partnered with the American National Red Cross, the Malawi Red Cross, Health Partners of Southern Africa, and Satellife on this program.

In preventing childhood diseases and malaria, the Malawi program is developing a national policy and implementation strategy for community IMCI (Integrated Management of Childhood Illness) aimed at advancing provider and caretaker practices.

Malaria prevention is being addressed by expanding community access to insecticide treated nets, and by increasing the use of Intermittent Presumptive Treatment for Malaria