Construction of a maternity unit
The project intended to construct a maternity unit together with staff accommodation, on the site of an existing primary healthcare clinic at the Chilaweni Village, Blantyre. The clinic was to serve a catchment population of approximately 38,000 people living in 23 neighboring villages. 24% of the population consists of women of child bearing age, 18% of the children being below the age of 5 and 5% under the age of 1 year. An integrated training program led by a specialist Midwife trainer was also planned. Once completed the Blantyre District Health Office agreed to take over all financial obligations of the Maternity unit.
The maternity clinic and staff accommodation were successfully completed in November 2020 and subsequently certified by the Nursing & Midwifery Council of Malawi. It was handed over to the Blantyre District Health Office in early January 2021 and opened to operational services on January 11, with the first baby being delivered two days later. The facility has now been upgraded form a Primary Healthcare Clinic to a Health Centre. Staff training and mentorship was provided in order to promote a patient-centered environment and safe maternity care, offering women respect and dignity and choice. Since it’s opening, antenatal clinics are held twice a week and becoming increasingly busy and 167 healthy babies have been safely delivered. Encouragingly, male partners have been increasingly attending of the births of their child and also ante and postnatal clinics.
The AMECA Trust, founded in 2006, is a registered charity in the UK and is incorporated as a Not for Profit Limited Company in Malawi. Its mission is to improve the delivery of healthcare in Malawi through focused and sustainable initiatives.
News
A Maternity Clinic is now complete
3 February 2021
The maternity unit together with staff accommodation on the site of the existing primary healthcare clinic at the Chilaweni Village is now complete.A project completed in Malawi
29 November 2021
The project enbaled the construciton of a maternity clinic, including staff accommodation, on the site of the existing clinic in the village of Chilaweni, in Malawi.
Testimonials
Professional development
Gloria Nkhula comments “I have gained so much from the mentorship program in terms of my clinical skills, confidence, decision making and leadership skills.”Meet Kumbukeni and her baby
Kumbukeni, aged 29 from Malunga Village, with her second baby who was born a couple of hours before this photo was taken.Meet Annie, Linda and their babies
Annie and Linda commented on how caring and professional the nursing staff were to them.Type
Health / Education / Community DevelopmentDuration
September 2019 – October 2021Location
Chilaweni / MalawiWith whom
The AMECA Trust
Website
Malawi
Population
18.6 million (2017)
Per Capita Income
USD 320/year (2017)
Poverty rate *
52% (2016)
Literacy rate
62% (2016)
Human Development Index
171st out of 189 countries (2018)
Malawi has been suffering from a deteriorating political environment since 2010, which has led to a weaker economy after five consecutive years of solid growth. Over 50% of the country's population lives below the poverty line and a quarter of the population is extremely poor. 37% of children under the age of five are suffering from stunting which hinders brain development, school performance, immunity and health. The country’s social indicators have nevertheless shown some improvements, notably a drop in HIV prevalence from 14% to 9%. Malawi is prone to natural disasters, primarily related to climate variability and change, which weakens its development.
Sources: World Food Program, UNICEF, World Bank, 2016 Human Development Report, Human Development Indices and Indicators (2018 Statistical Update)
*The percentage of the population living below the national poverty line.