By Suleman Chitera
Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation Joseph Mwanamvekha says government will use findings from the newly launched Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) to strengthen evidence-based planning and ensure targeted allocation of resources across key sectors.
Speaking in Lilongwe today after presiding over the official launch of the survey, Mwanamvekha said the MDHS provides a comprehensive picture of the country’s social and health indicators, highlighting areas of progress as well as persistent gaps that require urgent attention.
“The report shows that there are a number of indicators that are improving, and also some that we need to look at, mostly the issue of immunisation and the number of women that die during delivery,” said Mwanamvekha.
He noted that while improvements have been registered in some areas, challenges such as low immunisation coverage in certain communities and maternal mortality remain a concern, underscoring the need for focused interventions.
Mwanamvekha said the issues raised in the MDHS are already being incorporated into the upcoming national budget, with increased attention to sectors such as health, education and agriculture, which are critical to human development and economic growth.
“I want to assure the public that government is committed on this, with or without support from donors. The report will help us to ensure that our policies and even our planning should be evidence based,” he said.
The MDHS is a nationally representative survey that provides data on population, health and nutrition indicators. Government and development partners often rely on its findings to track progress, design policies and measure the impact of interventions aimed at improving the welfare of Malawians.
