19, 000 Women Give Birth in  2021 in Thyolo

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Presidential Advisor on Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood Dorothy Ngoma has commended health authorities in Thyolo for pushing down the maternal mortality rate currently at 45 percent, way below the national target of 50 percent.

Ngoma said this on Wednesday after the interface with health authorities and faith leaders in the district; enlightening them on health issues such as family planning, arbotions, cervical cancer and fistula.

She has however expressed worry that about 19, 000 women bore children in  2021 in Thyolo, calling on women in religious cycles to be in the fore in partaking family planning services.

"They are moving where they were at 60 and 50 then now 45. This is really excellent, it is one of the best in the country. They are pushing it down very fast. So for me that is encouraging. In terms of population we should be worried because its not just only Thyolo, the country we are having big figures," Ngoma said.

Victor Ngwalangwa, representing Thyolo District Safe Motherhood coordinator, says there is still need to encourage women especially in faith on maternal issues as only 13 percent of pregnant women are attending first three months of antenatal clinics, as opposed to the projected 25 percent.

He said: "As a district we are trying and happy to have reduced maternal mortality rate to 45 percent. However, this year only 13 percent of pregnant women attended first three months of antenatal clinics, as opposed to the projected 25 percent. This is why we called these faith groups including women to help in sensitising their subjects on faith based misconceptions".

Thyolo District Interfaith Committee Chairperson, pastor Lloyd Somera, says they will work together with health authorities to enlighten their faithful on the need to use contraceptive methods to control population growth.

Currently, Thyolo has a population of 770, 860 people.

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