MANAonline
Mzimba communities want GESD-funded projects operationalised
By Joel Phiri
Mzimba, April 10, Mana: Some community members in Mzimba have asked the District Council to expedite the operationalization of some structures constructed with funding from the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) Project.
The Community members said this in an interview on Tuesday that the completion of projects such as Mtuzuzu Health Post and Vibangalala maternity wing in Traditional Authority (TA) Mzukuzuku and have given hope for easy access to medical facilities.
A community member of Andrea Village in the area, Emmanuel Nkuna said they cover over 10 kilometres to Kalikumbi Health Centre to access medical help whenever they fall sick.
“We don’t have a medical facility within the vicinity. We only have an under-five clinic that treats kids only. So the construction of this Mtuzuzu Health Post by M’mbelwa District Council is a big step towards alleviation of our problems as far as medical help is concerned.
“The Mtuzuzu health post has given us hope that problems of accessibility to health facility will no longer be an issue once it is opening so we appeal to our M’mbelwa district council to ensure they operationalize it so that we start using it,” he added.
Another community member, Josephine Tembo of Vakaza Village said people encounter a lot of challenges to go to other health facilities such as Mabiri Health Post because they are far apart and it's costly to travel.
“When opened, we will no longer be covering distances to other health facilities such as Vibangalala Dispensary or Embangweni Mission Rural Hospital located very far away to access medical help. We just hope that after its completion in 2023, it will be opened this year so that we start accessing services,” she said.
Speaking on Monday during a review meeting of the GESD projects, M’mbelwa District Council Director of Planning and Development (DPD), Walter Chikuni said the council plans to operationalise the structures this year.
“The GESD funding is in and we are about to start buying all materials for all facilities we built such as health posts, Police offices, and schools. We will buy beds, mattresses and all necessitates for them to be operational,” he said.
According to the Director of Public Works at M’mbelwa District Council, Allan Chitete, Mtuzuzu Health Post was constructed in the 2022/2023 financial year under Cycle 2 of GESD to a tune of K77 million.
Y+ calls for stakeholders’ commitment on YPLHIV
By Steve Chirombo
Dedza, April 10, Mana: Stakeholders in the country have been challenged to show commitment towards addressing challenges that Young People Living with HIV (Y+) are facing.
Coordinator for the Resilient and Empowered Adolescent and Young People (READY+) Project under Y+ organization, Lusungu Haraba made the call Monday during interactive sessions with young people living with HIV in Dedza district on Community Led Monitoring (CLM) READY to care score card.
She said that, “We are calling on partners to continue supporting teen club programming to ensure that issues of treatment adherence should no longer exist. Much as we are talking about ending HIV we need to invest more in terms of quality access as well as prevention.”
According to Haraba, READY to care score card was one of the tools they are using in the READY Component to ensure that young people have the capacity and skills to evaluate the health services they are getting in their local health facilities.
She said that as an organization, their expectation was to ensure that young people are capable of receiving quality treatment in terms of HIV much as their efforts target at ending HIV by 2030.
“The agenda 2030 is that everyone should largely contribute to it. So, within the led movement, we are ensuring that youth are resilient, knowledgeable and empowered so that they can easily hold the stakeholders accountable and ensure that the services they are receiving are supportive and the environment is also supportive enough,” Haraba stated
One of the participants, Olivia Njuzi from Mandala area in the district, expressed hope that the session would help them identify challenges young people living with HIV are facing in their localities and in health centres where they go to access medical services thereby registering improvements on the same.
She bemoaned some misconduct among health workers towards young people living with HIV.
Dedza district Y+ Coordinator, Chifuniro Misomali said the district is trying to ensure that Youth Friendly Health Services (YFHS) are easily accessible citing availability of YFHS facility in the district.
“The engagement was quite insightful as it empowered us to be responsible on issues that affect us at the same time, enabling us to take immediate action. This calls for collaborative efforts not only among us and other stakeholders will go a long way in ensuring development,” he said
Misomali complained of persistent discrimination against YPLHIV, lack of inclusion and condoms and further called on the youths to always be in the forefront in doing things by among others utilizing their clubs in identifying challenges as well as those who could offer support.
He called on them to lead in ending HIV through use of condoms and other preventive measures as well as getting tested to know their status.
The interactive sessions are done with support from the Global Network of Young People Living with HIV.
Kalindo has a case to answer-court
Reported by Lyte Ali
Mangochi, April 9, Mana. A Court in Mangochi on Tuesday found Human Rights activist, Bon Kalindo with a case to answer on the allegation that he incited violence, contrary to Section 87 of the Penal Code.
During previous court proceedings, Eastern Region, Prosecution Officer, Superintendent Josephine Chigawa told the court that on November 30, 2023, Kalindo assembled people in Mangochi town without permit and incited them to violence, a development which resulted into damage of government property and individuals’ whose value was not known.
“During the demonstration, people smashed windows of district education offices, the gate at the District Commissioner’s offices, five government vehicles as well as six personal vehicles" added Chigawa.
On Tuesday, Senior Resident Magistrate, Muhammad Chande said that facts brought in court through five state witnesses established that Kalindo has a case to answer.
Defense counsel, Smart Khalifa told the court that they will parade their own witnesses to the case.
Magistrate Chande therefore adjourned the case to May 7 this year.
During the previous proceeding, Kalindo pleaded not guilty to the charge.
He is currently on bail.
Journalists urged to report more on HIV/AIDS
By Rose Cross Mahorya
Mzuzu, April 8, Mana: HIV Prevention and Management Officer for National AIDS Commission(NAC), Francis Mabedi has said journalists have a big role to play in ensuring that the masses are aware of some pieces of legislation on HIV and AIDS and related issues affecting those infected and affected by the disease.
Mabedi said this on Monday during a brief orientation of journalists belonging to Nyika Media Club on the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Management) Act of 2018 in Mzuzu.
Aside information on the Act itself, Mabedi said there was need for people to know facts about some prevention interventions made available for them.
"The orientation was meant to help journalists familiarize themselves with the provision of the Act and some interventions that are available to help prevent spread and contraction of HIV.
" As we are all aware, journalists have a huge role to play in disseminating information to the public. We believe once they are informed, they will disseminate the right information," he said.
Amongst other things, Mabedi appealed for journalists to report more on the role of parents and guardians in ensuring that children and youths on medication are adhering to the same.
"Of late, there has been a challenge where children and young people are defaulting from taking their life prolonging drugs. Let's help each other to disseminate information that encourages parents and guardians ensure that their children and wards are not defaulting on the drugs so that they grow into productive citizens," he said.
Nyika Media Club Vice Chairperson, Alefa Katsongo thanked NAC for organizing the orientation which she said was insightful to the scribes.
"For journalists to better inform the public, they need to be knowledgeable themselves. It is therefore important that they have been oriented on the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Management) Act.
"My plea is that the journalists should utilise the opportunity to report more on HIV related issues because the country needs to know that HIV and AIDS is still amongst us and that there are some laws governing its prevention and management," she said.
Lingadzi Police hailed for tightening security at Capital Hill
By Rennie Tembo
Lilongwe, April 9, Mana: Office of Secretary to President and Cabinet has hailed officers from Lingadzi Police Station in Lilongwe for working professionally and tightening security at Capital Hill.
Director of Administration in the Office of Secretary to President and Cabinet, Maxwell Tsitsi hailed the Station on Monday on behalf of the Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC), during an interactive meeting organized by the Office of President and Cabinet (OPC), aimed at appreciating and encouraging the officers for the commendable job they are doing on matters of security at government offices.
His remarks come barely few weeks after Police arrested Black Mussa who was allegedly suspected to have been terrorizing some offices at Capital Hill.
‘’We are pleased that officers at Lingadzi Police Station have come up with different initiatives in order to provide optimum security to the people working at Capital Hill and all government property.
“We would love to see our officers putting more measures and efforts in ensuring security not only here, but the country at large,’’ he said.
Lingadzi Police Station Officer In-Charge, Billy Chimbonga thanked OPC for recognizing their efforts in providing security at Capital Hill and across the country.
“Our officers work around the clock, we didn’t know that they are some people who are recognizing and appreciating our efforts. This is quite commendable and encouraging,” he added.
The Officer In Charge has since asked private security companies in the country to be very serious and vigilant when employing their security officers by among other things vetting or investigating the behavior or history of the officers they intend to employ.
In March, 2024, Lingadzi Police Station Criminal Investigation Detectives (CID) arrested Black Mussa for allegedly committing a series of break-in incidents at Capital Hill including the offices of the Vice President, Accountant General, Ministry of Finance, Local Government, Economic Planning and Health.
Kamtukule graces "The Humble Treasure" book launch
By Ousman Manda
Lilongwe, April 8, Mana: Minister of Tourism, Vera Kamtukule has said encouraging children to write books, and promoting a culture of reading among children will help Malawi to achieve its Vision 2063 agenda.
She made these remarks on Saturday in Lilongwe when she presided over the book launch titled "The Humble Treasure," by Prince Chinyamunyamu.
Kamtukule highlighted the importance of giving children the freedom to be creative without parents pushing their ideas, so children can express their own ideas in their work.
"Let the young ones speak to their fellow young ones in their own language and original ideas, otherwise it will be the parent’s ideas in the book and that’s unproductive," she said.
Prince Chinyamunyamu, a 13-year-old author, expressed gratitude to Kamtukule for her significant contribution during the book launch.
He further hailed his Project Manager, Maureen Masamba, and his parents for their continued support, saying that without them, the publication of the book would have been impossible.
"I would also like to thank Pamela Kuwali, The Country Director for Care International in Malawi, who took me through the fireside chat and question and answer segment of my book launch," Chinyamunyamu added.
He then urged other upcoming authors to embrace their talents and abilities instead of limiting themselves, emphasising that putting limits on oneself can kill dreams.
"I hope the young readers that read my book will understand, from a young age, the pivotal role kindness plays in this world and to begin displaying more and more compassion in their day to day life," he said.
WHO donates MK62.2m PEDSAM kits to Malawi Government?
By Kondwani Magombo
Lilongwe, April 8, Mana: World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday donated to Malawi government 48 kits of pediatric severe acute malnutrition (PEDSAM) worth MK62.2m to address the challenges posed by pediatric severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in the country.
WHO Country Representative to Malawi, Dr. Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, made the donation through the Ministry of Health at a ceremony held at Capitol Hill, Lilongwe.
Kimambo described the donation as “a crucial contribution to Malawi's healthcare system, particularly in addressing the effects of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children in the country.
She said the PEDSAM Kits are meticulously designed to provide essential supplies necessary for the effective treatment and care of children suffering from malnutrition, as well as malaria.
“Enclosed within each kit are vital resources aimed at reaching 50 SAM pediatric cases for three months,” said Kimambo, and she continued: “This provision ensures a sustained effort in combating malnutrition among our nation's children, reflecting our commitment to their well-being.”
The WHO Country Representative to Malawi disclosed the total procurement cost of the donation as US$35,560.56, which translates to approximately MK62, 230,980.00.
“This investment underscores our dedication to improving public health outcomes and ensuring access to essential healthcare resources for all Malawians,” said Kimambo, adding: “As we navigate through the challenges posed by the lean season, WHO is fully committed to facilitating the swift delivery and utilization of these kits to the designated healthcare facilities across the country.”
In her acceptance speech, Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, hailed WHO for the donation, which she described as “timely and very useful for Malawi”.
The minister said the country continues to struggle with a high infant mortality rate and that, of late, there has been progressive reduction owing to Government’s collaboration with development partners.
“The current infant mortality rate for Malawi in 2024 is 31 deaths per 1000 live births, a 4.2 percent decline from 2023; The infant mortality rate for Malawi in 2023 was 33 deaths per 1000 live births, a 5.1 percent decline from 2022,” explained Chiponda.
She noted that cases of severe malnutrition and malaria in children in Malawi highly contribute to the reported high infant mortality rates with malnutrition alone, accounting for at least 30 percent of the deaths.
She, therefore, said any efforts to stop the rise of the infant mortality rate, as WHO has done, is commendable and encouraged to save the lives of the children and the future leaders of Malawi.
Government for improved internet connectivity
By Gift Chiponde
Lilongwe, April 8 Mana: Minister of Information and Digitalisation, Moses Kunkuyu, has reiterated government's commitment in providing affordable and accessible internet connectivity to all Malawians.
Kunkuyu made the remarks Monday at the opening of a two-day International Communication Union (ITU) Regional workshop on cost models for data services and international internet connectivity, organised by Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) in Lilongwe.
He said the workshop will serve as a platform to address challenges that developing countries like Malawi are facing with internet connectivity services.
He said government is committed in ensuring that Malawians have access to affordable internet services.
In his remarks, MACRA's Director General, Daud Suleman said that the workshop will help the regulatory body to ensure that Malawians are connected to the internet, which is one of the enablers in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Suleman indicated that due to the emergence of digital technologies in Malawi, the country can venture into a digital economy through the availability of affordable internet connectivity and access to smartphones among Malawians.
“As one of the least developed countries, we require digitalization and this is the only enabler that will allow us as a nation to achieve and attain 70 percent of the Malawi sustainable development goals by 2030
Currently, we are at a position where only a few Malawians are connected to the internet, and connecting to the internet unlocks a potential opportunity since the world has become digital and has also created a globalized market,” he added.
He also disclosed that digitalization will also help the country to have a state of preparedness in case of emergencies such as cyclones and other natural disasters.
“With digitalisation and the use of data, we will be in a better position to predict our crop harvestings statistics and forewarn the nation on what to grow during planting farming season” Suleman said
He also said despite Malawi having cheap data in the African region, government is doing everything possible to ensure that 70 percent of those not connected to the internet grid can connect themselves with cheaper internet connectivity
Vijay Maurce who is the Standardise Bureau Programme Coordinator at ITU said the two-day workshop is approving a platform for knowledge sharing on best practices that can be adopted by different countries.
He also emphasised that affordable internet connectivity drives the socio-economic livelihoods and the development of other industries such as artificial intelligence hence the need for all regional countries to have affordable and accessible internet.
ITU, the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs), is made up of a membership of 193 Member States and more than 1000 companies, universities, and international and regional organisations.
Kasungu CSPWP participants demand more work
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, April 8, Mana: Participants in the Climate Smart Public Works Programme (CSPWP) in Kasungu district have asked authorities to increase the number of work cycles so that conservation efforts are spread throughout the year.
Speaking on Sunday during a field visit to Mdima catchment, Eliphala Lembani of Mwezi village in Traditional Authority Santhe said there are a lot of months without conservation activities as works are only done in one cycle of 24 days in a year.
He said: “The concern is twofold. Firstly, these activities are meant to conserve the environment but the challenge is we have very few working days in a year. We would definitely be happy if the works are spread throughout the year.
“Secondly, this programme has a livelihood component where participants get some wages at the end of the year. So you can see that we only work 24 days the whole year and get 28, 800 which is not enough to take care of our socioeconomic needs.”
Another participant Salomy Atisoni said since CSPWP beneficiaries are excluded from other social protection initiatives like Social Cash Transfers and Agriculture Inputs Programme, there is need to give them more cycles so that the programme’s livelihood component is achieved.
Kasungu District Council Desk Officer for the project, Ignatius Lipato, said plans have already been made to increase the cycles from one to four, beginning this 2024/2025 financial year.
“We had a number of challenges that were delaying us because we were doing a number of activities manually and this was taking a lot of our time as an office. This included manual mode of payment.
“The good thing is we are migrating to electronic payments and most of the issues that were eating up our time will be handled on digital platforms. This is why this time we will go up to four cycles which means more work and money for the participants,” he said.
Lipato said the district has also increased the number of conservation catchments from 20 to 24 which has seen the number of participants also increasing from 15 802 to 23 532 necessitated by presence of more ultra-poor households, population size and sizes of the catchments.
The CSPWP is a component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Programme funded by the World Bank and the Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
Elderly people in Rumphi tout social cash transfer program
By Manasse Nyirenda
Rumphi, April 8, Mana: Elderly people in Rumphi say social cash transfer programme (SCTP) has offered them a chance to live dignified lives and has rescued them from abject poverty.
In an interview on Friday one of the beneficiaries, Dorica Gondwe, 67, from Chikalamba Village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Chikulamayembe said the monthly payments help her meet some of her daily needs such as food.
"I started benefiting from the programme in 2018 and since then my life has changed for the better. I have built a house and roofed it with iron sheets.
"In addition to that we are encouraged to join village savings and loans (VSL) groups where we save and also lend each other money for business. Through such groups I have managed access loans for my tomato business which is also doing well," she said
Gondwe added that through savings she makes at her VSL group, she is able to buy fertilizer for her farm and harvest enough for her household’s consumption.
Another beneficiary, Wyness Nyirenda, 86, from Kanyunya village in the same area says due to her advanced age she struggled to feed and buy clothes for herself since her husband died.
She said with SCTP, she can fend for herself and is able to buy fertilizers, hire labourers to work on her farm and has also bought livestock including pigs and goats which have improved her welfare.
On her part, Merciina Ng'oma, 74 from Thuzi village in the area says through the program, she has bought herself a blanket to keep warm at night.
District Social Welfare Officer for Rumphi, Zindaba Lungu says many beneficiaries in the district have been able to build good houses and also own livestock using the money they receive.
Lungu added that finance management skills the beneficiaries acquire from VSLs, through the programme, has brought them success in savings and investments.
SCT is a Malawi Government’s safety net programme under Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Programme (SSRLP) funded by a Multi Donor Trust Fund and the World Bank.
