In her opening remarks in Oslo, Honorable Minister of Health Ms. Catherine Gotani Hara said she was thankful for Norway’s support to female politicians in Malawi.
Minister Hara attending a round table discussion in Oslo. Photo: UD
Minister Hara is in Oslo contributing to the Global Health conference Accelerating progress: Saving women’s and children’s lives in the coming decade, on January 22.
Opening a meeting with The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), Minister Hara said that she was a result of Norway’s support to female politicians in Malawi.
Minister Hara has herself participated in the training of female parliamentarians that Norway supported before the elections in 2009, and was one of many female candidates that received campaign funding from Norway.
Minister Hara also said that she hoped Norway and Malawi would continue their cooperation on the important work of strengthening women’s role in politics.
Focus on maternal health
At meetings with Norad, Norwegian Church Aid and The Norwegian Directorate of Health in Oslo on Monday, Minister Hara said that Malawi will prioritize expanding the health care services for pregnant mothers in 2013.
The Minister also mentioned the importance of education programs for nurses and community midwives.
Currently Malawi is one of the countries with the highest maternal ratio globally, estimated at 675 per 100,000 births.
Minister Hara told the Norwegian agencies that the Government emphasizes the connection between maternal health and family planning in their work. She also called attention to the importance of securing girls access to education, to prevent them from marrying too early.
President Joyce Banda contributed to global report
Honorable State President of Malawi, Ms. Joyce Banda, has contributed to the report “Accelerating Progress in saving the Lives of Women and Children”, which is launched during the conference Minister Hara attends.
The report provides an update on the significant developments and new commitments since 2010, when the United Nations Secretary-General launched his Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health.
In her contribution, President Banda emphasizes how promoting positive behavior change will help women and children, and how the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood works;
“[The initiative] mostly targets chiefs as opinion leaders who can accelerate behavior change and encourage community participation, and promote cultural habits that influence health-seeking behavior and community attitudes towards family planning, pregnancy and delivery.”
Read the full report at www.norad.no/globalcampaign.
@ norway.mw