The Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) says more efforts have to be put into the response to silent disasters that continue to affect people, especially in the rural areas of the country. These often unnoticed disasters, says the Red Cross, have a great impact on the lives of many due to a lack of basic needs and essential services within their rural communities. Infant mortality is one of the silent disasters in Malawian communities.
As a way of complementing government efforts, MRCS in partnership with the Netherlands Red Cross Society, has moved in to address issues of infant mortality and safe motherhood in the central districts of Ntchisi and Kasungu. “We have committed 1.3 million euros for the next three years in addressing infant mortality and safe motherhood. As a way of reducing infant mortality, we want to ensure that every woman gives birth with the help of professional birth attendants,” said George Mwimaniwa, MRCS Orphans and Vulnerable Children Officer.
Working through local volunteers and the government, MRCS will identify pregnant women and follow up with them for one year after they have given birth. Apart from providing health and care assistance, MRCS will also be distributing baby packs and other necessities to the mothers. “We expect to reach out to 97,000 child bearing women and help them raise their children up to the age of one,” said Mwimaniwa.
“Our goal is to reduce maternal and infant mortality by increasing community resilience through volunteers and other community groups. We are also going to reduce delays at community and health facility levels through bicycle ambulances, supporting hospital outreaches, strengthening linkages, referrals and collaboration between community and health facilities that will increase appropriate care by professional/skilled birth attendants,” he added.
In a related development, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the European Commission and eleven European Red Cross National Societies, recently launched a four-week campaign to highlight silent disasters and crises “that invariably go unreported in international media and are often out of the public eye”.
The Malawi Red Cross, with assistance from the Belgian Red Cross through the Community Based Health Care and First Aid Approach is already working with communities in Kasungu to identify such silent disasters and find solutions. “Using the learning by doing approach, we are working with volunteers and government health care workers from the district to respond to maternal and child health, malaria, tuberculosis and the lack of safe water,” said MRCS Health and Care Manager Gloria Kunyenga.
The Malawi Red Cross Society is a local humanitarian organization which started its operations in 1932 as the Nyasaland Branch of the British Red Cross. In 1966, the Malawi government passed Act 51 of Parliament establishing the MRCS as a voluntary society, allowing it the right to use the protected Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems in conformity with Geneva Conventions. It became a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in 1971.
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