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Stakeholder Relationships
The Synod of Livingstonia through its medical board, is the hospitals' proprietor and
principal stakeholder. Along with our sister hospitals in Ekwendeni and Livingstonia, we
are members of the Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM), an
umbrella organization of mission hospitals which provide 45% of healthcare in Malawi. The
Government of Malawi provides the bulk of salary monies for our staff, and we are active
participants in district and regional health meetings with our government colleagues. In
2001, we hosted the District Health Officers meeting at Embangweni - the first CHAM
unit to do so in the Northern region, and indicative of our good relationship with our
government colleagues.
The Centenary Celebrations showed the good
relationship that exists amongst all Stakeholders. The presence of the Vice-President,
representatives from overseas partnership churches (PCUSA, PCI and Church of Scotland) and
others was indicative of the oneness our Lord requires of us.
Demographics
With a population nearing ten million people, 85% of whom live in rural areas, Malawi
is one of the world's poorest countries (GNP per capita = $170). Most of our patients are
subsistence farmers from very poor families. Inflation has continued during
the year 2002. Our rural poor still face hardship. This year’s hunger situation is
much worse than last year. It is gratifying, that in recognition of this predicament,
assistance has been forthcoming from donors, churches, etc.
Table 1 Selected Demographic Indicators
| Selected Demographic Indicators |
Result |
| Fertility rate (number of children a woman delivers in her lifetime) |
6.3 |
| Percentage of 15-19 year olds who are mothers or now pregnant |
33% |
| Percentage of married women using a modern family planning method |
26% |
| Percentage of births assisted by a trained midwife |
56% |
| Maternal mortality ratio (number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live
births) |
1120 |
| Percentage of children under 2 who are fully immunised |
78% |
Percentage of under 5's sleeping under a mosquito net
(malaria is the leading cause of death in children in Malawi) |
8% |
| Percentage of under 5's who are stunted (growing sub-normally because of
poor nutrition) |
49% |
| Under 5 mortality rate (number of children per 1000 live births who die by
age 5) |
189 |
| Percentage of women with primary level or no education |
57% |
| Percentage of men with primary level or no education |
39% |
| Percentage of men who believe that condoms can protect against HIV |
86% |
| Percentage of men who used a condom on last sexual encounter |
14% |
| Estimated HIV prevalence in Malawi |
15% |
Source: Demographic Health Survey 2000, National Statistical Office, Lilongwe, Malawi.
| Although some of these indicators are somewhat better than in previous
surveys, the effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemics are apparent. In particular, the extremely
high maternal mortality ratio is largely attributed to HIV. Mothers are sicker, and there
are fewer surviving trained health staff to treat them. It is estimated that a child born
in Malawi today has a 50% lifetime risk of dying from AIDS.As the statistics above show,
many Malawians know how to prevent HIV, but have not translated that knowledge into
effective behaviour change. HIV/AIDS is undoubtedly the biggest challenge facing health
personnel in Malawi. However, malaria is still responsible for the highest
death and morbidity rate and re-emergence of “controlled” disease must be borne
in mind. |
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