By Esnart Chingwalu

Maternity Worldwide Malawi says the country can reduce maternal deaths if pregnant women are engaged on different health issues. 

Racheal Kalima, Health Coordinator for Maternity Worldwide Malawi told YFM that a lot of pregnant women are ignorant of their health status such as high blood pressure which can lead to death among others.

Kalima added that this is the reason that the organization is distributing BP machines to different women groups in Zomba district as one way of reducing such deaths.

“We have discovered that a lot of women have problems of high blood pressure but they don’t know which later contribute to a lot of maternal deaths which is also on the rise in Zomba district,” Kalima said.

The groups that the organization is distributing the BP machines have also involvement of men in them which according to Kalima is a plus to enhance maternal health in the district.

“When we talk of maternal and new born health it is not an issue of women alone but men too just like what the Ministry of Health is encouraging on proper antenatal care in the country, that is why men too are involved in these groups,” Kalima said.