Malawi, with one of the poorest healthcare systems in the world, continues to face significant challenges in reducing the death of mothers and babies. Although nearly all mothers have skilled healthcare workers by their side during child birth, the quality of care remains a major concern particularly due to a lack of available training opportunities. Recognising the urgent need for skilled maternal healthcare to strengthening maternal & newborn care in Malawi, 45 healthcare workers in Malawi including government, NGO, and private facilities attended the Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) training held in August 2025.
Led by Doctors Worldwide obstetric volunteers from the NHS alongside Malawian maternal health consultants, the training strengthens maternal and newborn health services in rural communities with limited access to healthcare. By building local capacity to respond to maternal and neonatal emergencies, its impact will reach far beyond the classroom to the thousands of patients these clinics serve each month.
The training brought together staff from 14 clinics in Malawi, including government, NGO, and private facilities, strengthening local capacity to respond to emergencies in maternal and neonatal care. These clinics collectively see thousands of patients each month, meaning the impact of this training will reach far beyond the classroom.
Building Life-Saving Skills
The goal of the training was clear: to equip healthcare workers with the knowledge and skills to recognise obstetric emergencies, manage them competently, and ultimately save the lives of mothers and babies.
Through practical and theoretical sessions, participants strengthened their confidence and competence in managing complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn care. The training equipped participants with skills such as:
Recognising early danger signs in pregnancy and childbirth
Delivering respectful and high-quality maternity care
Managing complications such as haemorrhage, infection, and high blood pressure
Performing life-saving newborn resuscitation
What I appreciated most were the breakout sessions and hands-on simulations, which allowed us to apply our knowledge in mock emergencies. It taught us how to act decisively, when to call for help, and how to work as a team in life-threatening situations. This is incredibly important for those of us in remote or single-staffed settings, where quick decisions can save lives. — Alice, Community Nurse
Hands-on practice of neonatal resuscitation.
Building Healthier Futures
Access to quality healthcare is not a privilege, but a human right, and through initiatives such as the BEmONC training, we are working towards making this a reality for mothers and babies in Malawi.
Support us today by investing in the training and development of frontline health workers so that together, we can save lives today and change lives for the long term. Your support enables us to train more health workers, provide critical resources in strengthening maternal & newborn care in Malawi and ensure mothers and newborns in remote areas receive the care they need.
Donate to our work in Malawi today.
