Thokozire Lipato is a registered nurse and midwife and expert in midwifery practice, education, and health policy in Malawi. She currently serves as a district consultant for the United Nations Joint Program on Health Systems Strengthening, which aims to create equitable health and nutrition outcomes. She also heads the Midwifery Department at Mulanje Mission College of Nursing and Midwifery. Over 20 years, Thokozire has worked to improve midwifery standards and access to equitable sexual and reproductive health services and family planning nationwide. For six years, she was the director of monitoring, evaluation, and investigations and research for the Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi. Throughout, she has focused on delivering quality reproductive health services, HIV diagnosis, treatment, and care. She has led diverse teams and managed large USG grants and private philanthropic funds. Thokozire earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Malawi.
Applied Project Title: Strengthening Midwifery Competencies for Midwife Educators
In Malawi, poor quality health care contributes to an unacceptably high maternal mortality rate. Most of these women die due to pregnancy-related complications despite access to health care services. This project examined ways to strengthen competency-based midwifery education and support faculty development, with a goal of zero maternal deaths by 2030. Three phases of implementation included: 1) an assessment of midwifery educator competencies at Mulanje Mission College of Nursing and Midwifery, identifying areas of improvement; 2) a review of the college curriculum to ensure it meets international standards; and 3) development and implementation of a mentorship program to sustain the project and help consolidate skills and competencies among midwifery educators.