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COUNTRY OVERVIEW
Malawi is one of the 10 poorest nations on earth, and its poverty is starkly represented in its demographic indicators - an average life expectancy of 37 years, a literacy rate of 63 %, and 55 % of the population living on $1 per day or less. Food insecurity is widespread and chronic. 25% of the population is chronically food insecure and 45% of children are stunted by malnutrition. An estimated 60% of the government’s health worker positions are vacant and only 96 government doctors address the health needs of 12 million people.
HIV/AIDS is a cross-cutting issue of major importance to Malawi’s long-term development prospects, severely impacting household food security and wealth and asset creation and retention, as well as educational attainment and overall public health. Prevalence rates are high (15%), resulting in over 500,000orphans and 80,000 people dying annually from the disease or associated complications. AIDS is, in fact, the leading cause of death among Malawian adults. High HIV infection levels have also resulted in an unprecedented increase in tuberculosis (TB) cases (over 27,000 new cases annually) with a 70% TB/HIV co-infection rate.
While Malawi certainly faces significant health challenges, recent data show a substantial decline in the infant mortality rate (76 deaths per 1,000 live births) and the under-five mortality rate (133 deaths per 1,000 live births). Considerable progress has also been made over the last decade in reducing total fertility from 7.6 births per woman (1984) to 6.0 (2004). This has been achieved through an increase in the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) for modern methods from 7% in 1992 to 28% in 2004, however it should be noted that little increase in use has occurred in recent years.
CCP has worked in Malawi for the past 5 years. The Center is currently working on projects in the areas of HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health.
ACTIVE PROGRAMS
PAST PROGRAM
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