Government to include life-saving commodities in new budget

Malawi government has said it will include 13 life-saving commodities in the 2016/2017 national health budget.

The commitment has been made by the Ministry of Health to Health and Rights Education Programme (HREP).

Some of the life-saving commodities are contraceptive implants, emergency contraceptive pills, female condom, misoprostol, magnesium sulfate, chlorhexidine, ORS, zinc and amoxicillin.

Provision of the life-saving commodities is one of the goals advanced by United Nations Every Woman Every Child Initiatives and locally it is being advanced by a network of local non-governmental organisations called Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH-Malawi).

“I write to assure the Reproductive, Maternal. Newborn and Child Health RMNCH-Malawi, that the Ministry of Health remains committed to avail funding to 13 life-saving commodities in 2016/17 national budget. As stipulated in a letter addressed to the UN Secretary General in September 2015 on the same, funding will be made in 2016/17 budget,” reads the letter, dated March 24, 2015.

To end all preventable childhood and maternal deaths by 2035, provision of the life-saving commodities is one of the commitments.

“Reduce the mortality rate among children under the age of 5 years to less than 20 percent per 1000 live births by 2035; reduce the mortality rate among newborns to less than 15 per cent per 1000 live births by 2035; reduce the pregnancy related maternal deaths to less than 140 per 100,000 live births by 2035. Above all, the government shall emphasize on survive, thrive and transform targets in every setting,” reads the earlier letter from Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume to the UN dated September 18, 2015.

Executive Director of HREP, Maziko Matemba, said the NGOs under RMNCH-Malawi are monitoring government’s adherence to Every Woman Every Child commitments.

“We are thankful that government has availed this funding and HREP will keep on following up on this issue. These commodities will be available in all health facilities in Malawi. Currently we are working on the cost of the 13 commodities,” Matemba said.