24 October 2013 Helen Cheyne and Gillian Smith - Maternal and Child Health in Malawi

Improving Maternal and Child Health in Malawi.

Over 37,000 babies born in Malawi will die within 28 days of birth and 3-4,000 mothers will die each year.

These were some of the disturbing facts brought out at last Thursday's meeting.

Helen Cheyne is the Royal  College of Midwives Professor of Maternal and Child Health in the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit (NMAHP RU) based at the University of Stirling. She was joined by Gillian Smith, the Royal College of Midwives's Director for Scotland to give a very thought provoking talk about the issues facing maternal and child health, focusing on Malawi. The stark figures quoted contrast with Scotland where approximately 240 babies die or are stillborn and 3-4 mothers die each year. Malawi has a population of 16 million compared with 5 million in Scotland.

One of the single biggest factors affecting survival is the availability of professional care. In Scotland, less than 1% of mothers give birth without this, whereas in Malawi, the figure is 46%.

Helen is part of a team including members from the Bridge of Allan and Dunblane Club and the Rotary Club of Limbe in Malawi who are working on a Rotary Global Grant to fund a one year scholarship at Stirling University for a student from Malawi to undertake a post-graduate degree at Stirling. This will give the knowledge to then return to Malawi to develop the provision of maternal and child healthcare.

Applications are currently being scrutinised and it is hoped to decide on the candidate later this year.

Gillian outlined the worldwide shortage of midwives by quoting from a Save the Children report in 2011 which identified there was a shortfall of around 350,000. She cited an example from Nepal where the incidence of deaths during childbirth had been reduced to zero following the appointment of a midwife in the area.

After questions from the floor, Russell Wheater gave the club's vote of thanks to Helen and Gillian and wished them every success with their efforts.