Malawi has reported substantial reductions in maternal and newborn mortality rates, supported by the implementation of the World Health Organization's Quality-of-Care Network. According to a May 22 report by the WHO Regional Office for Africa, the maternal mortality ratio in Malawi has fallen from 439 to 224 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births between the 2015/2016 period and 2024.
The progress is linked to the institutionalisation of quality care across 29 districts as part of the Health Sector Strategic Plan III 2023 to 2030. The WHO noted that neonatal deaths have also decreased, alongside a drop in the total fertility rate and an overall reduction in the unmet need for family planning services.
Update: As these public health initiatives advance, Malawi's medical sector continues to manage severe staffing gaps. According to a May 22 report by Nation Online, health advocates are urging the government to explore alternative domestic funding, such as new taxes on hazardous products, to bypass external wage bill caps and recruit more local health workers.