On October 30th Nkhoma Safe Motherhood staff presented the maternal health situation to the Area Development Committee (ADC) of Traditional Authority (TA) Mazengera. Health seeking behavior among pregnant women has increased, with more women going to health facilities to deliver. Often they go there several weeks before the actual delivery, accompanied by an average of three relatives. The pregnant women and their guardians spend these weeks at guardian shelters together with other patients and their guardians, leading to congestion and health risks. After noting that the issue of maternal waiting homes is critical, it was observed that the maternity waiting home at Nkhoma Hospital had insufficient capacity. The ADC can apply for funds from the Local Development Fund on a cost sharing basis (25%/75%). It was agreed that the maternity waiting home at Nkhoma Hospital would be put as a priority for the Local Development Fund. This was subsequently presented by the ADC to the Lilongwe District Assembly.
Communities around Nkhoma hospital have responded by donating over 200,000 bricks as well as sand for the construction of the maternal waiting home. Lilongwe District Assembly has conducted an assessment and will facilitate the construction of the home.

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Link:Nkhoma Safe Motherhood Program

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The Nkhoma Safe Motherhood Program is supported by the Malawi Development Program of the Scottish Government through the Church of Scotland.