16 April 2009
Press Release
An increased commitment to mothers-to-be in Malawi will be announced in Glasgow today by International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander at an Oxfam event at Glasgow University.
A £9 million increase in the Department for International Development’s (DFID) funding to our health programme in Malawi will tackle a serious maternal mortality problem in the country which boasts a special relationship with the people of Scotland.
This figure brings the total UK commitment to health care in Malawi to £109 million from 2005 until 2011 and cements the UK’s position as the largest health donor in the country.
Douglas Alexander will make the increased pledge at a panel discussion event with Judith Robertson, head of Oxfam Scotland. He will also reaffirm DFID’s commitment to supporting public health services in Malawi and free health care provision, including for all deliveries.
Oxfam are currently running a Public Health First Campaign working with the trade union Unison, looking at the benefits of public healthcare in the developing world. DFID and Oxfam work very closely in Malawi and across the world helping to improve access to free maternal and child health care.
Speaking from Glasgow University, Douglas Alexander said:
"The UK, and in particular Scotland, has long been a great friend of Malawi. This special friendship has expressed itself in many walks of Scottish life, from school linking schemes to the work carried out by Scotland’s faith groups. This has all contributed to improving the lives of the millions of Malawians living in poverty. This is why today I am committing this additional funding designed to tackle problems suffered by women after complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
"People in Scotland and throughout the UK can be rightly proud of the role they are playing in improving so many lives across Malawi and the rest of the developing world. Charities like Oxfam play an enormously important role in our collective effort to see Malawi meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the United Nations."
The UK’s support for health issues in Malawi has had positive results including infant mortality falling by nearly 50% in 15 years meaning 15,000 fewer children die each year. In addition, almost three quarters of facilities are now able to offer family planning and maternity services, an increase of over 60% since 2002.
Notes to editors
This event has been organised in conjunction with Oxfam, who have invited faith groups, representatives from other NGOs, students and other interested members of the public.
Malawi is one of poorest countries in the world with 40% living below the poverty line (but was 45% 2006). 15% go hungry for part of year, however, due to DFID’s involvement in Malawi 430,000 children benefited from 4100 classrooms built by DFID since 1996. DFID has also provided 18 million textbooks since 2006, benefiting 2.5 million children.
In addition DFID has provided £315,000 in early 2009 to support distribution of maize to 300,000 people. In 2008 DFID provided £1.45m to provide emergency relief for over 220,000 flood victims and DFID providing £4.5m in 2008/09 to support the Government’s programme which provides affordable seeds and fertiliser to 1.5 million households.
DFID’s office in Scotland, Abercrombie House, is home to over 500 local employees who contribute to the development of Malawi in areas such as policy and research.
For further information, contact Sarah Thoms on 07932 954867 or 020 7023 0600, e-mail pressoffice@dfid.gov.uk or call our Public Enquiries Point on 0845 300 4100.