We must stop failing our mothers

On Thursday, Malawi marked Mother ’s Day—a day set aside to celebrate mothers for their love, care, sacrifices and their contribution to families and society. The occasion coincided with the United Nations’ International Day of Rural Women, observed annually on October 15, to recognise the contributions of rural women to their communities and countries.

But beyond the tributes, the day presented an opportunity for Malawians to reflect on the value of celebrating our mothers every year when the systems meant to protect their lives and wellbeing, especially in hospitals, continue to fail them. What, really, do we celebrate when more women are still risking their lives to bring new life into this world?

Even today, scores of expectant mothers across Malawi’s towns, cities and rural communities must travel long distances to reach the nearest health facility without access to emergency ambulance services. Ask women who have endured these journeys, and they will tell you that motherhood can sometimes feel less like a moment to celebrate than a test of how much suffering a woman is expected to endure before, during and after childbirth.

It is against this reality that efforts to improve maternal and newborn healthcare deserve recognition. For example, since 2005, Nation Publications Limited has mobilised support from the corporate world and other well-wishers to provide critical medical equipment and essential supplies to public health facilities across Malawi through its Mothers’ Fun Run Initiative. This effort has significantly helped to improve care for mothers and newborns besides drawing attention to the challenges facing maternal healthcare in Malawi.

However commendable these efforts, reports from many maternity wards countrywide continue to highlight difficult conditions for expectant mothers and healthcare workers, including overcrowding, shortages of essential medical equipment and an overstretched healthcare workforce. These put immense pressure on facilities already struggling to meet the demand for maternity service and addressing these gaps requires sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure, essential supplies and trained personnel to ensure mothers and newborns receive safe and timely care.

The scale of the challenge becomes clearer at Bwaila District Hospital in Lilongwe, where pressure on free maternity services is difficult to ignore. Recent reports indicate that daily deliveries rose from about 68 to 75 in October 2025 to between 115 and 120, including 25 to 30 Caesarean sections a day. That amounts to more than 3,450 births a month, placing considerable demands on staff and resources.

But the challenge goes beyond the number of deliveries. As one doctor friend observed the other day, time during childbirth can mean the difference between life and death. When complications arise, even skilled clinicians may struggle to save lives without the equipment, personnel and facilities needed to perform emergency procedures promptly.

Simply put, exper tise alone cannot save lives when the necessary equipment, personnel and facilities are lacking.

And if you think the problem ends with overcrowded maternity wards, consider the wider picture. The WHO’s 2026 State of the Health Workforce in Africa report puts Malawi at just 6.69 health workers per 10 000 people, against an African average of 15.68 and a global average of 49. In effect, too few health workers are carrying a burden far greater than their numbers can reasonably bear. The result is mounting pressure on hospitals, long queues and overstretched staff.

This is why maternal healthcare needs more than political rhetoric. It calls for sustained investment in hospital infrastructure, skilled personnel and essential equipment to ensure both mothers and newborns receive safe, timely and quality care. Until maternity wards have adequate spaces, staff, equipment and resources, more women will continue relying on courage instead of competent and timely care.

We cannot fully honour Malawian mothers while childbirth remains a gamble for many women. Our commitment to women must not only be measured by roses and tributes, but by the quality of care and protection they receive when bringing new life into this world.

That is what makes this year’s occasion an issue!

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