The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commended ongoing actions aimed at reducing maternal, infant and child deaths in the country.

UNICEF Malawi Representative Johannes Wedenig said this during the monitoring visit of Every Woman, Every Child (EWEC) Social Accountability Project in Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba district.

Wedenig said he was impressed with changes in attitudes of health workers and husbands in accompanying pregnant women to the antenatal care.

“The community have reported progress on fighting child marriages and enhancing provision of maternal and reproductive health services,” Wedenig added.

He applauded Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) and Parent and Child Health Initiative Trust (PACH) for the engagement of health officials in Theatre for Development (TFD).

“We have seen TFD playing out issues in a very participatory and educative manner and basically making decisions together with the community,” he said.

EWEC Project is being implemented by YONECO, PACH and Malawi Health Equity Network (MEHN) in Zomba, Machinga, Dedza, Dowa and Nkhatabay districts with funding from UNICEF.