Lilongwe, 29 March 2007 -- Strategic collaboration among health practitioners is pivotal if southern African countries are to make significant headway in combating the region’s most daunting health challenges - Tuberculosis, Malaria and HIV and AIDS. According to World Health Organization’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Luís Gomes Sambo, the region must work together to exchange experiences and increase epidemic surveillance and response.

Speaking at the opening of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Health Minister’s meeting in Lilongwe, Dr. Sambo said that United Nations was exploring opportunities to build upon synergies across UN agencies to tackle issues of improving health systems and services and in particular to combat malaria, TB, maternal and child mortality.

Dr. Sambo and Dr. Jorge Sampaio, UN’s Special Envoy to Stop Tuberculosis have been on a four-day mission in Malawi. Earlier in the week, they attended a ceremony where the Government of Malawi declared Tuberculosis an emergency in Malawi and launched the national TB Strategic Plan 2007-2011. 

Lesotho’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Mphu Ramatlapeng, also appealed for a concerted and rigorous effort to attain excellence in delivery of health services in the region. She further reiterated the need to aggressively implement the SADC Protocol of Health. Malaria, TB and HIV and AIDS are some of the priorities in the protocol, which recognises cooperation and integration as essential for the effective control of communicable and non-communicable diseases and other common health concerns in the region. 

A shortage in health professionals, especially nurses and midwives is one of the factors negatively influencing high child and maternal mortality rates and inadequate sexual and reproductive health services in the region. Malawi for example, has one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates at 984 out of 100,000. There are an estimated 60 nurses for every 100,000 people in Malawi as opposed to the WHO recommended ratio of 100 nurses for every 100,000 people.

During their mission, Dr. Sambo and Mr. Jorge have met with President Bingu wa Mutharika UN officials and civil society representatives advocating for continued solidarity and robust political leadership to drive the campaign against Tuberculosis. They will also visited hospital and health centres in Lilongwe and Blantyre where community involvement in tackling TB and a collaborative approach to TB and HIV prevention and treatment are being successfully implemented. 

Malawi’s Ministry of Health is hosting the SADC health ministers’ meeting, which is also discussing financing for health services and the threat of Avian Influenza. 

Malawi will also make history at the meeting when it launches Africa’s first Road Map for accelerating the reduction of maternal and neonatal illness and deaths. Every day, 16 Malawian women die due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth.

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