Malawi Parliament Calls for Debt Cancellation to Boost Health Sector
The EPF delegation's visit to Malawi is hosted by the Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM).
Lilongwe, Malawi - The Chairperson for the Social and Community Affairs Committee of the Malawi Parliament, Savel Kafwafwa, has called for the cancellation of the country's debts to transform the health sector, particularly in addressing Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) issues, writes Moses Nyirenda.
Kafwafwa made these remarks during an interaction with members of the European Parliamentary Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) who were visiting Malawi for a study tour.
Kafwafwa emphasised that servicing the country's debts from the national budget has had a significant impact on various sectors, including health.
He revealed that approximately one-third of the national budget is allocated to debt servicing, diverting essential resources away from sectors such as healthcare.
"In other words, we are paying all those big loans using money from the national budget, and some sectors like the health sector are being affected because of this," Kafwafwa explained.
He appealed for the cancellation of debts, asserting that the funds currently allocated to debt repayment could be redirected to make improvements in various sectors, especially healthcare.
"Some of the challenges which we are facing in our sectors are due to the debts obtained some 20 years [or] 40 years ago. So as parliament, we are making that appeal to say it is high time the debts for Malawi should get cancelled so that the money servicing the debts can be channelled to different sectors like the health sector," Kafwafwa stressed.
Kafwafwa noted that in 2003, the cancellation of debts in Malawi led to transformations in various sectors of the country.
Laurence Zanchetta, a European Parliamentarian from Belgium, expressed eagerness among European Parliamentarians to support the Malawian government in addressing challenges affecting the health sector, particularly in the realm of Sexual Reproductive Health.
"We want to support in bringing solutions to the problems affecting the area of Sexual Reproductive Health and other related areas," Zanchetta stated.
The visiting members of parliament from European countries, representing Romania, Finland, Portugal, Ireland, and Belgium, are all members of the EPF, a network of parliamentarians across Europe committed to protecting the sexual and reproductive health of vulnerable populations worldwide.
The EPF delegation's visit to Malawi is hosted by the Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM).
Donald Makwakwa, the Executive Director of FPAM, welcomed the EPF delegation to the country, anticipating that it would share best practises that could enhance Malawi's health sector, particularly in addressing Sexual Reproductive Health issues.