The National Organisation of Nurses and Midwives (NONM) has blamed government for failing to address the shortage of nurses and clinicians in the country’s public hospitals.

NONM President, Dorothy Ngoma, said this following the recent death of an 18-year-old pregnant woman, Mphatso Phiri, and her unborn baby on an operating theatre table at Thyolo District Hospital.

According to press reports, before the tragic death, there was a delay in taking the woman to the theatre due to the absence of the clinician on duty.

While confirming the incident, Thyolo District Health Officer Dr. Michael Mulowa indicated that the hospital does not have adequate clinicians who are normally responsible for the labour ward.

Ngoma said the tragedy could have been avoided if government had recruited more health workers.

“Malawi needs highly skilled health workers in order to fight maternal deaths. Government is failing to take responsibilities in fighting maternal deaths,” she said.

Ngoma said it is unacceptable that this is happening yet the country produces thousands of trained graduates every year.

Minister of health, Atupele Muluzi, announced recently that government is in the process of recruiting additional 1,200 before the end of this year.