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Healthy Markets CoP Session - Malawi - October 2024

The October HMCoP session focused on the family planning (FP) and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) market in Malawi. This session featured speakers from PROPEL Health, PSI Malawi, Mothers2Mothers, the MOMENTUM Tiyeni Activity, and Banja La Mtsogolo (MSI Malawi) who shared their valuable perspectives, summarized below. Alongside the presentations, valuable discussions arose on the following topics:

  • Gender-related opportunities and challenges in the FP private sector
  • Tailored approaches to meet adolescent needs
  • Community engagement through youth-led and youth-serving organizations to expand access to FP services in urban and rural areas
  • Emergency Contraceptives (ECs) and the role of the commercial sector
  • Opportunities for partnerships with social marketing and behavior change actors
  • Staff attrition in private health facilities, including prioritizing the involvement of the facility owners in capacity strengthening as a means of supporting staff 

These discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration and synergy in strengthening FP services in Malawi, aligning with HMCoP's commitment to a supportive, community-driven environment. We extend our thanks to our PROPEL Health and Palladium colleagues for their help in planning this session, and to USAID Malawi colleagues for their participation and closing remarks. Special appreciation also goes to all participants, especially those who dedicated their time to present.

The Malawi meeting featured the following speakers:

 

John 

John Limited, Health Financing Technical Advisor
PROPEL Health

John described Malawi's FP market, focusing on contraceptive availability and use. He emphasized the private sector’s role in supporting public efforts and the Ministry’s vision for an integrated, publicly led healthcare system, including forums for private-sector engagement to advance universal health coverage.

   

Martha Valeta, Senior Program Manager
Population Services International (PSI)

Martha outlined PSI's work in Malawi, focusing on a social franchising model that partners with private clinics to offer subsidized contraceptives, demand-generation support, quality assessments, and management training. Key insights included defining the private sector’s role, understanding population segments, and aligning national public-sector efforts with private initiatives.

 

PSI logo

   
Tendai Mayani 

Tendai Mayani, Program Director 
Mothers2Mothers

Tendai presented Mothers2Mothers, a nonprofit employing local women with HIV as Mentor Mothers and Peer Mentors, trained to connect clients to family planning services and engage communities. Going forward, Mothers2Mothers aims to strengthen ties between health facilities, communities, and the private sector to boost FP/SRH demand. 

   

Olive Mtema, Chief of Party
MOMENTUM Tiyeni

Chief of Party Olive Mtema highlighted efforts in technical assistance, capacity building, and financial support to the Ministry of Health. The project drives demand through social behavior change (SBC) interventions, expanded outreach clinics, and youth-centered services. Key partnerships include the Family Planning Association of Malawi, the Christian Health Association of Malawi, and exploring new partnerships with private companies, like tea and sugar plantations, to invest in FP services for employees and surrounding communities. 

 olive mtema
   

Banka La Mstogolo

 

Charles Mhango, Clinical Quality and Training Director
Banja La Mstogolo (MSI)

Banja La Mstogolo (BLM), Malawi’s largest nonprofit SRH provider and a key partner of MSI Reproductive Choices, supports the Ministry of Health through private-sector initiatives. Key efforts include developing DMPA-SC guidelines for private pharmacies, training providers, facilitating pharmacy-government MOUs, managing distribution, and offering supervisory support.

   

Bertha Migodi, Family Planning and Reproductive Health Specialist
USAID Malawi

Bertha concluded by acknowledging the presenters’ contributions and the role of Malawi’s stakeholders in expanding FP services. She urged continued dialogue, saying, “where we share what we are doing, share what is working well, discuss the challenges, and explore possible solutions to expand private sector engagement in the FP space.” She thanked HMCoP organizers for sparking broader thinking on how to expand private sector engagement in Malawi.

 

Bertha Migodi

 

 

Resources

If you have resources or an upcoming event that you would like featured in the HMCoP newsletter or HMCoP website that would be of interest to HMCoP members, please contact FHM-HMCoP@fhm-engage.org. 
 

Recent Highlights

  • Written by : FHM Engage

  • Published on : 14-Oct-24

  • Highlight Type :
  • Country : Malawi
  • Project : FHM Engage
  • Language : English