The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
£50m for women’s health in Malawi
Thousands of women in Malawi are expected to benefit from new UK investment in sexual health services.
Minister for Africa Harriett Baldwin announced details of the £50.1 million Tsogolo Langa – My Future programme on a visit to the Scotland Malawi Partnership in Edinburgh.
The Department for International Development (DFID) programme will build on progress made by previous family planning programmes in Malawi.
The six-year programme will provide sexual and reproductive health services to more than 300,000 Malawians and save an estimated 6,000 preventable maternal deaths.
Ms Baldwin said: “Every woman has a right to a happy and healthy life. This is about empowering women to take control of their own health and their own futures.
“Malawi’s long term success matters to the UK. That is why I am proud UK Aid is supporting these vital services for hundreds of thousands of young Malawians, allowing them to make decisions on their families and futures in a safe and informed way.”
DFID will work with the government of Malawi’s Ministry of Health.
Malawian minister of health and population Atupele Muluzi said: “This assistance is very timely as Malawi continues to further stabilise its population growth that is driven by teenage pregnancy, currently standing at 29%.
“Malawi still has a huge gap in providing different choices in contraceptives and this investment will assist in helping young women have more control of their future.”