The country has launched the 2024 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) Main Report.
Speaking during the launch in Lilongwe, Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamvekha said health was not merely a social sector issue but also a strategic economic investment one.
Mwanamvekha, who presided over the launch on Tuesday, said a healthy population was better positioned to drive economic growth.
“The findings of the 2024 MDHS offer a comprehensive picture of Malawi’s demographic trends and health outcomes. They provide insights into fertility patterns, maternal and child health, nutrition status, adolescent health, disease burden and access to essential health services.
“These indicators are not only measures of social well-being; they are also core economic and planning indicators with direct implications for national development planning, labour force dynamics, service delivery costs, and fiscal sustainability,” Mwanamvekha said.
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The 2024 MDHS was implemented by the National Statistical Office (NSO), with data collection conducted from May 13 to August 31, 2024.
Commissioner for Statistics Shelton Kanyanda said the MDHS 2024 showed that Malawi was making progress in several areas, including reductions in maternal deaths during childbirth.
African Institute for Development Policy (Afidep) Executive Director Eliya Zulu said the MDHS programme had, for more than 45 years, been one of the most trusted and transformational sources of data for understanding demographic and health challenges, inspiring action and monitoring progress in Malawi and other developing countries.
