 In Malawi, the overall goal is to improve the quality and access of sexual and reproductive health services in the Lungwena-Makanjira rural area. This has been done in the area's health centres and small village clinics. In addition mobile health clinics bring the services near people. Also a network of trained volunteer offer contraceptives and sexual health advice. They work in local villages which makes it easy for local people to approach them.
We are working in cooperation with the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare. Our local partners and the implementers of the project are the local community, Malawi's Ministry for Health and the University of Malawi.
Maternal health
Maternal health has improved in the project area, since maternal health services are provided daily, and the health centre of the area has an on-call midwife and an ambulance.
Väestöliitto has also introduced the Lungwena maternal waiting home. Women in their last trimester can come to the home to wait for their childbirth. Once in labour, skilled personnel are readily available to support the delivery and attend to any complications, should they arise.
The goal is that eventually all women would have the access to safe birth with skilled birth attendace.
HIV
Malawi has a high prevalence of HIV infections (approximately 12 %). Therefore providing health and sexual health education for adolescents has been one of the main goals of the project.
One method has been utilizing the village meetings, where information about preventing HIV infections, family planning and risks related to pregnancy and child birth is given through drama, songs and dance.
Our experience has showed that these culture specific methods are more effective than e.g. media. In addition these methods provide people the chance to participate. |
