Information on maternal health is still very limited, and the information that is there is often misrepresented. In most cases, the information is packaged in a manner that makes it appear like maternal health is about mothers only.

These were some of the concerns raised by PSAf board chairperson Edward Chitsulo when he addressed media professionals in Malawi at a maternal health media workshop at the beginning of October. The workshop was organised under PSAf’s Health programme with funding from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) Malawi to look at how the media can contribute towards can play in raising the profile of maternal health issues.

In his presentation, Mr. Chitsulo said there was need for “continuous professional development in one of the areas that matter most to the people we serve: Maternal health”.  He noted that while maternal health was an issue of concern for both men and women, “the label may be a misnomer” by focusing on mothers only and challenged experts to address the issues.

 “Maternal health and safe motherhood still remains a silent, hidden crisis in our homes, but unfortunately it is only referred to for political or administrative expediency. Our role, therefore, is to help contain this crisis,” said Mr. Chitsulo. 

He added that there were still very wide gaps in terms of information about maternal health.

“Any example in any part of the region will show that families are still not well informed about maternal health; there is lack of resources, facilities, manpower; health centres are still miles away; some folks have still not internalised the fact that HIV and Aids is real, and a major threat to sound maternal health and the overall well-being of communities.”

To addeess the challenge, Mr. Chitsulo encouraged the media “to appreciate the existing wealth of knowledge and how we can help close the information, policy and practice gaps in our communities, so that the people are effectively empowered to drive their destinies”.

The issues of gender in relation to maternal health also came up in an article by one of the participants, Richard Chirambo who also brought in the views of experts and government officials on the matter.