The Integrated Pathways for Improving Maternal, Newborn and Child health-InPath-says in Malawi, unless stakeholders hold hands to support the health sector in maternal health issues through provision of equipment maternal and infant mortality rate will remain a serious challenge. InPath Clinical Training Coordinator, George Nkhoma, said this on Wednesday when the organization donated assorted medical equipment to Salima district worth K138 million. “We bought the equipment after conducting a needs assessment. We found that the hospital was in dire need of equipment such as theater beds, oxygen concentrators among other equipment,” Nkhoma said. InPath says effective service delivery can only be when hospital personnel has the necessary equipment to use hence the donation meant to help reduce maternal and newborn deaths. Receiving the equipment, District Nursing and Midwifery Officer for Salima, Gertrude Ngwala-Banda said until now, the hospital was using aged equipment hence not able to match demand. “We have been facing serious shortage of such equipment in the theater, labour ward and the nursery. We failed to help mothers and newborn babies leading to preventable deaths," said Ngwala-Banda confident that the state of affairs would now improve. At least thirty women give birth everyday at the Salima district hospital. Aside the donation of equipment, InPath is also expanding the maternity wing, upgrading of Khombedza Health centre and providing ambulances in some instances.

Ministry of Industry has tipped cooperatives and Saccos in the country to devise measures that would maintain and cushion their membership in the face of COVID 19 which they say will soon become an economic problem other than just a health issue.

The Malawi Electoral Commission has said its plans to conduct by-elections in some constituencies depend on determination by the Ministry of Health on the spread of Covid-19.

Kamuzu Central Hospital Director Dr. Jonathan Ngoma has emphasized the need for the country’s mental health system to be improved especially now when COVID19 front line health workers need psychosocial assistance more than ever.