The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), through its MOMENTUM Tikweze Umoyo project, has handed over medical equipment and supplies valued at USD 472,000 to the Ministry of Health. The equipment will contribute to enhancing access to high quality health services in the districts of Salima, Nkhotakota, Kasungu, Chitipa, and Karonga.
The equipment will help healthcare professionals monitor women during antenatal, labour, and delivery periods, ensuring essential care for those experiencing complications.
In a statement issued by the mission, USAID Acting Mission Director Michael Rossman said, “We are committed to investing in Malawi’s primary health care services to help build the healthy population at the centre of Malawi 2063. USAID is proud to partner with the Government of Malawi to help equip health care workers with the skills and tools they need to save lives”.
As Malawi’s largest bilateral partner, USAID supports the Ministry of Health to expand access to high-quality maternal, newborn, and child health services, nutrition support and voluntary family planning. Their investments also contribute to poverty reduction and increased gender equality. Last year, USAID’s partnership with the Government of Malawi provided nearly 2.5 million mothers and children with essential health services and helped to resuscitate more than 8,000 newborns.
The medical equipment, procured through USAID’s MOMENTUM Tikweze Umoyo project includes oxygen concentrators, examination couches, delivery and patient beds, blood pressure machines, autoclave sterilizing machines, delivery sets, machines for vacuum-assisted delivery, newborn resuscitation stations, and antishock garments that help stabilize women during difficult deliveries, saving lives by minimizing blood loss.
Expressing gratitude for this generous support, the Director of Health Services at Nkhotakota District Hospital, Dr. Jacob Kafulafula, acknowledged the challenges faced by health facilities and highlighted the positive impact the donated equipment would have. “Facilities face many challenges, including a lack of essential equipment and supplies. Therefore, the medical equipment and supplies will help alleviate some of the challenges we face,” he said.
USAID Malawi MOMENTUM Tikweze Umoyo is a five-year project that scales up and integrates maternal, neonatal, and child health, reproductive health, family planning, nutrition, and water/sanitation and hygiene services in Karonga, Nkhotakota, Chitipa, Salima and Kasungu. AMREF Health Africa Malawi implements the project in collaboration with Water Aid, Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM), Youth Wave, D-tree International, Family Health Services (FHS), and Emmanuel International (EI).
The press statement was published on the USAID website https://www.usaid.gov/malawi/news/united-states-provides-life-saving-medical-equipment-malawi