Traditional birth attendants accused of fuelling newborn deaths

Jul 18, 2016 Health 5
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Malawi24

The Livingstonia synod of CCAP has accused traditional birth attendants of fueling neonatal deaths in Mzimba district.

The accusations follow a report by Mamaye that 19 newborns die per month in the district.

The synod through its moderator, John Gondwe says the Livingstonia synod is optimistic that it will do its best reduce the deaths.

Traditional birth attendants get the blame in Malawi. (Image credit:politicsofpoverty.oxfamamerica.org)
Traditional birth attendants get the blame in Malawi.
(Image credit:politicsofpoverty.oxfamamerica.org)

The moderator was speaking at a windup project of advocating for focus antenatal care to all pregnant women at Mphalaunda health centre under Embangweni mission hospital.

“We have adopted to reach out human beings holistically addressing spiritual and physical life of a human being. “As a church if we don’t address the population on their health, then we might have people who would be weak and could even fail to come to the church for their spiritual life,” said Gondwe.

The synod has since called on all civil society organizations, human rights activists, and other stakeholders to embark on sensitizing people on issues to deal with antenatal care.

Meanwhile, the synod has asked women in the district to restrain from giving birth using assistance from traditional health attendants in order to reduce the maternal deaths.