Hosting a Community-Centered Maternity Open Day in Malawi
Last week the Kamuzu University of Health Science (KUHeS) in partnership with Seed Global Health hosted a Maternity Open Day in Sumbuleta Village, located within the catchment area of Limbe Health Centre. The event was designed to bring essential health services directly to the community while raising awareness about respectful maternity care and the comprehensive care offered at the Midwifery-Led Ward.
The open day offered a wide range of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health services (MNCH). These included antenatal and postnatal care, family planning, under-five health checks, HIV testing, and obstetric ultrasound scans through Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS). The goal was to not only meet immediate health needs but also to build trust and familiarity with the facility-based care available at Limbe Health Centre.
The theme for this year’s event was “Midwives at the heart of respectful and family centered maternity care” and it reflected the core purpose of the gathering. It was a reminder that midwives are more than caregivers. They are advocates, educators, and trusted companions during one of the most important moments in a woman’s life — childbirth.
The event drew a diverse group of attendees, reflecting the strength of collaboration between the health system, academia, and the community. The guest of honor was Group Village Headman Chief Nyaka. Other key figures included Dr. Elizabeth Chodzaza, Executive Dean for the Schools of Maternal, Neonatal and Reproductive Health at KUHeS; Dr. Hawa Mtitimila, Medical Officer from the Blantyre District Health Office; Richard Malirakwenda, Midwifery Advisor at Seed Global Health, Group Village Headmen from neighboring communities, midwives, and faculty from KUHeS.
It was not just about clinical services. The day was brought to life through traditional dances, drama, and spoken word performances that all carried the same powerful message: women deserve to give birth safely, in a health facility, and with dignity and respect.
Disrespectful maternity care is a known barrier to health facility use, and the consequences can be life-threatening for both mothers and newborns. That is why respectful and responsive care is not just an ideal, but a necessity. It improves trust in the health system and leads to better outcomes for families and communities.
This open day was one in a series of ongoing efforts by the KUHeS-Midwifery-Led Ward partnership to engage communities, promote hospital deliveries, and inform the public of their health rights. By hosting these events twice a year, in different areas served by Limbe Health Centre, the initiative continues to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and the people they serve.
