Malawi - Population and Health

The population of Malawi is estimated at about 12.5m. Half (47%) are between 0 and 14 years old (equivalent in the UK is 18%). The population growth rate is 2.1%. On average there are 6 children born per woman (UK is 1.7).

Children

Average life expectancy has fallen to 37 years (UK is 78), largely because of AIDS/HIV, which has grown to an adult prevalence of 14% but now seems to have stabilised.

There are some improvements. Although still high, under-5 mortality has decreased to 133 per 1000 live births in the last 12 years. There have been successful inoculation programmes to eliminate measles, neo-natal tetanus and polio.

Maternal mortality is among the worst in the world at 18 deaths per 1000 live births (2004). AIDS and poor nutrition are contributory factors, together with an under-resourced health service.

The few hospitals and clinics that there are in the Malawi, suffer from lack of facilities, medicines and staff.

The country trains about 60 nurses each year but at least 100 leave each year to work abroad. One study claims that there are more Malawian doctors practising in Manchester than in the whole of Malawi. To alleviate this, the UK Dept for International Development has announced a six year programme to support health services in Malawi, including £55m for training and retaining health workers.