Liwale District reduces maternal morbidity rates, improves healthcare
A waiting building constructed in Liwale District, Lindi Region, through the collaboration of the government and Doctors Without Borders, aimed at addressing health challenges in the district and across the country at large. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- Child mortality for children under five years old has also dropped to between seven and 15 percent from the previous 23 to 25 percent.
Liwale. Liwale District in Lindi Region has made significant strides after improving maternal health, reducing maternal morbidity rates to under one percent from the previous four percent.
Child mortality for children under five years old has also dropped to between seven and 15 percent from the previous 23 to 25 percent.
The rate of C-sections performed on pregnant women has also decreased to 10 percent from more than 25 percent over the past two years.
This success is part of the ongoing efforts by Doctors Without Borders also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to improve healthcare services in the district.
MSF’s initiatives have included training healthcare workers, establishing a maternity waiting home, and renovating essential health facilities.
The MSF Health Coordinator, Dr Frolian Mwabesa, told journalists on Friday, November 29, 2024, that they were working closely with the government.
“We saw a critical need to invest in maternal and child health in Liwale District due to alarming statistics,” he said.
MSF Country Director Tomasso Santo praised the public-private partnership, stating that it had significantly strengthened healthcare delivery in Liwale District.
The collaboration has expanded the healthcare team to 64 workers, including doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, and 41 community health workers.
“The maternity waiting home, located at the district’s main health centre, provides a safe and supportive environment for pregnant women from remote areas, especially those with high risks,” he said.
“This facility has been instrumental in preventing complications for women with conditions like hypertension and diabetes by offering immediate access to care during the final days of their pregnancies,” added Mr Santo.
Regarding MSF’s funding for these healthcare services, Mr Santo revealed that in 2023, the organisation spent over Sh18 billion, with the majority of the funds—98 percent coming from individual donors and private institutions.
“We are committed to providing the highest quality medical care possible, no matter where we work, and acting in the best interests of our patients,” he said.
“This includes respecting their rights to dignity, confidentiality, informed consent, and the autonomy to make their own decisions,” he added.
Apart from improving services at the district health center, MSF has extended its outreach to remote villages in Liwale, including Lilombe, Namatete, Chigugu, and Nambuju in the Lindi Region.
