Malawi: Improvement of Perinatal Care in Rural Areas
Malawi has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with 439 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and 40 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births. Half of these deaths result from poor hygiene conditions during childbirth, leading to serious infections. Newborn deaths in Malawi account for a quarter of the total number of deaths in children under the age of five.
Many medical facilities face challenges such as a lack of qualified staff, medications, electricity, and proper equipment. Most traditional midwives lack training and access to sterile medical supplies. YORGHAS Foundation’s efforts to reduce infections during childbirth began with the distribution of our MAMA KIT sets, which had already saved the lives and health of thousands of mothers and children in different countries. Thanks to numerous donors from all around the world, we have provided several hundred of these sterile childbirth kits to health centers and rural hospitals in Chikwawa, Bimbi, and on Chisi Island. MAMA KIT is a set of essential items necessary for safe childbirth in any conditions. The use of these kits minimizes the risk of infections that can lead to death or illness of both the mother and the child. Additionally, we installed a solar lighting set at the health center on Chisi Island, addressing the challenge of conducting nighttime procedures that were previously performed by candlelight or flashlights.
We encourage everyone to support our continuous efforts to protect the lives of mothers and babies in Malawi.