Joining forces: Advancing implementation of commitments for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health in Malawi

Photo credit: Amref Health Africa, Malawi 

A multi-sectoral and multi-constituency audience of over 70 participants gathered in Lilongwe and online for the launch of the Malawi Digital Advocacy Hub to support the implementation of national commitments to women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health. The launch was convened by the Ministry of Health’s Reproductive Health Directorate in conjunction with Amref Health Africa, Malawi.

The Thursday 1 August 2024 event was part of PMNCH’s Collaborative Advocacy Action Plan (CAAP) initiative, coordinated in Malawi by Amref Malawi, under the leadership of Hester Mkwinda Nyasulu, Amref  Malawi Country Director.

Following an expansive scoping review and assessment of national commitments, the Malawi commitment dashboard was also introduced at the event. The interactive dashboard consolidates global, regional, and national government commitments for maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH), sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and adolescent well-being (AWB).

While the Government of Malawi has recorded well over 60 national, regional, and global commitments and targets for women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health since 2014, there is often poor awareness of these pledges as shared by Parliamentary Committee Chairperson Dr. Matthews Ngwale.

“Commitments have been made before in this country… But the problem is the knowledge of what commitments Malawi has made and how many commitments Malawi has made. That knowledge is very, very limited amongst us.”

Government of Malawi officials, including the Secretary for Health, the Director of Reproductive Health Services, and the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, pledged their support to leverage the commitment dashboard and the Malawi Digital Advocacy Hub to monitor progress and coordinate among partners.

Reproductive Health Services Director Madame Doreen Namagetsi Ali called on the Government and partners in the room to support the annual tracking of commitment implementation:

"… We have created this dashboard so we can track progress on each and every commitment. We have agreed that every year, we will review and assess where we are so that we can continue implementing and fulfill our commitments."

The multi-sectoral convening power of the Malawi Digital Advocacy Hub was stressed by the Secretary for Health, Dr. Samson Mndolo,

"The Digital Advocacy Hub that we are launching today can be used as a shared space for collaboration among our diverse sectors."

Following longstanding advocacy from Amref as CAAP coordinating partner, together with other partners, the Reproductive Health Director and Secretary for Health, also announced the launch of the Malawi Multistakeholder Platform (MSP).

Amref Country Director, Hester Nyasulu welcomed deepened collaboration to support the advancement of national commitments.

"Today is a big day because we are looking at commitments that the government has made for the people it serves… We are here to launch the Malawi Digital Advocacy Hub but also to invite all of you to take part in this Multistakeholder platform where all of us are going to combine our efforts and support the government, specifically the Ministry of Health, to ensure commitments are fulfilled."

Photo credit: Amref Health Africa, Malawi

From left to right: The Director of Reproductive Health Services, Amref Malawi Country Director, The Secretary for Health, the Chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Health