By Memory Kutengule Chatonda

Blantyre, March 22, Mana: Chichiri Prison has reported 61 confirmed cases of viral conjunctivitis also known as pink eye disease among the inmates, totaling 353 cases registered so far in Blantyre.

This was disclosed on Friday in Blantyre during a community awareness meeting organized by the Blantyre District Health Office [DHO] at Chichiri Prison.

Speaking during the meeting, Blantyre DHO Health Promotion Officer, Chrissy Banda said it was worrisome that the disease was spreading very fast at the prison, appealing to its partners to support the prison in providing hand-washing facilities to ensure that the inmates wash their hands with soap and clean water regularly.

“As of yesterday, March 21, Blantyre DHO had cumulatively registered 353 cases of pink eye. These cases were reported from Chichiri Prison, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and other health facilities. However, efforts are being made to prevent further spread of the disease in the district.

“Currently, we are doing active surveillance of cases and disseminating messages through health workers in communities. Today, we are at Chichiri Prison and we are yet to solicit more support from partners to do similar awareness meetings in different places,” she said.

Banda, therefore, advised the public to follow all the preventive measures that have been instituted to protect themselves from contracting the viral infection.

“The public is advised to avoid using unprescribed medications, herbs and other things, touching or rubbing eyes, sharing personal things like eye glasses and towels that can transmit the infection if used by an infected person and also avoid handshakes and overcrowded places to prevent transmitting the infection to others,” she said.

Banda also encouraged people to report to the nearest health facility for supportive treatment once they start experiencing signs and symptoms of the disease.

In his remarks, Chichiri Prison Assistant Superintendent, Thomas Katambo hailed Blantyre DHO for taking the messages on pink eye disease to the prison and also for rapid response after being notified of the disease outbreak.

Pink eye disease transmits rapidly due to poor hygiene and its symptoms include but not limited to eye itching and discharge.

By Ireen Mseteka

Likoma, March 22, Mana:  Likoma Agri Enterprise will soon embark on cage fish farming project which has been sponsored by National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) to the tune of K32.5 million.

Speaking Thursday, when he briefed stakeholders on the project, Chairperson for Likoma Agri Enterprise, Asante Mankhokwe said the project will among others address issues of fish depletion in Lake Malawi.

 “People should expect improvement in fish production since we will be culturing adequate fish that will be supplied within the district and the surrounding districts,” said Mankhokwe.

In his remarks, Vice Chairperson for Likoma District Council, Barnabas Sambamo applauded NCST for supporting the project which he said would go a long way improving   people’s nutrition status and creating employment opportunities among others.

“The coming in of this project will see increased fish catch which will be sold to other districts thereby enhancing economic empowerment at district and household level,” said Sambamo.

According to District Fisheries Officer (DFO) for Likoma, Richard Banda, the K32.5 million grant will be used for construction of cage culture in the waters of Lake Malawi, this project will be at Madimba in the district.

In cage culture, fish are confined in cages which are constructed of wire or fibre netting suspended from a floating frame.

By Tracy Mtegha   

Mzuzu, March 22, Mana: Residents and travellers to and from Ching’ambo and Chiputula locations in Mzuzu City are facing communication challenges following destruction of a bridge on a road that connects the two areas.

Mzuzu has for the past few days been receiving rain which has led to damage of most roads including Chiputula- Ching’ambo Road.

Speaking, Thursday in an interview, Councillor for Chiputula Ward, Hewet Mkandawire said the current budget for Mzuzu City Council (MCC) cannot meet rehabilitation works of the bridge.

 “The current budget has already been depleted and I have to use personal resources to fix this bridge as the council does not have emergency backup resources to meet such scenarios,” said Mkandawire.

Public Relations Officer for the MCC, McDonald Gondwe said the council is fully aware of the damages that have caused by rains on some roads in the city.

“The council has appealed for assistance to address the issues from the general public but none has come forward.

As of now we are relying much on Constituency Development Fund and locally generated revenue and these funding windows are not enough for us to embark on emergency related issues,” said Gondwe

One of the concerned residents of Ching’ambo area, William Manda said the destruction of the bridge makes it difficult for motor vehicle users to drive on the road.

By Margret Praise Kalua

Nkhata Bay, March 22, Mana:  Youths in Traditional Authority (TA) Nyaluwanga in Nkhata Bay have decried lack of youth friendly reproductive health services (YFRHS) infrastructure and confidentiality in providing such services to them at Chikwina Health Centre.

This was said on Thursday during an interface meeting between youths and duty bearers that was organized by Livingstonia Synod AIDS Programme (LISAP) under their project  ‘Everywhere youth Empowered’ which is being implemented in the area.

District Youth Network representative, Edward Kaunda described the situation as a recipe for sexually transmitted infections, teenage pregnancies and early marriages among youths since they are shy to seek for the services, resulting into high school dropouts in the area.

"We want privacy in accessing medical supplies like condoms and services like guidance and counseling by trusted service providers because this will protect us from sexually transmitted infections, teenage pregnancies and early marriages in situations where we cannot abstain,” said Kaunda.

He therefore asked health authorities in the district to intervene in the situation by providing them an YFRHS room at the health facility and increase the number of service providers.

"It is an open secret that the youths are indulging into sexual activities so we need to join hands with duty bearers in addressing the challenge because once these services are not available near them, chances are high that they can land into these problems," he added.

Deputy Youth Friendly Health Services Coordinator, Dithia Mjojo said they will improvise a room at the health facility by end of April this year to enable them access the services in privacy and confidentiality. 

TA Nyaluwanga said through area development committee together with the youth themselves, they will mold bricks to construct the facility at the health Centre this year.

Executive Director for LISAP, Jonathan Vumu said they have embarked on advocacy to unearth issues that directly affect the youth in sexual reproductive health especially in TA Nyaluwanga.

Vumu said with support from Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D)-Canada they are targeting 940 adolescent boys and 1200 adolescent girls both in and out of school, aged 10 to 24 years so that they can live life to their full potential.

Vumu said: "As an organization, we have already started addressing the challenges they have raised by engaging duty bearers, mostly the health sector so that they are treated in a dignified manner if they want services such as sexual reproductive health services among others."

By Moses Nyirenda

Lilongwe, March 22, Mana: One of the country’s nonprofit organizations working in waste management, WASTE Advisers is set to host networking meeting dubbed ‘Lilongwe think tank networking event’ on March 27, 2024 in Lilongwe.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Thursday, Project Officer for the organization Geoffrey Mphangamo said the networking event aims at addressing issues affecting cities as well as promoting businesses involved in the secular economy.

“The event aims at bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders including government officials, city councils, corporate social investment representatives, eco-entrepreneurs in the circular economy sector and potential investors.

The central theme of the event revolves around collaborative thinking and action and it focuses on devising innovative strategies to address our cities most pressing challenges such as waste management as well promoting businesses involved in the circular economy,” Mphangamo said.

He added that the event is a follow up on the work the city summits which were conducted in 2023 in the country’s cities initiated particularly in the domain of waste management and promotion of circular economies.

He also said that during the event, a number of activities will take place which include the launch of European Union (EU) funded project.

“Three main activities will take place; first will be the launch of the project financed by EU called ‘Building Better! Post – covid Economic Recovery through a National Recycling Campaign Project’, this is a four-year project being implemented in the country’s four cities.

“Secondly, we will have a "Green Arena" where entrepreneurs will pitch their innovative ideas directly to potential investors and participants will be evaluated not just on the viability of their business proposals, but also on their potential impact on environmental sustainability,” he said.

One of the country’s renowned Environmental Activists, Matthews Malata hailed WASTE Advisers for organizing Lilongwe think tank networking event.

“The event is a very big opportunity for all players that are working in the waste management sector and secular economy to come together and see how they can collaborate, coordinate and make stronger impact together in environmental management and secular economy,” Malata explained.

WASTE Advisers was launched in the country as an independent organization in 2018 and its mission is to empower people in the communities to improve their own environment and livelihood by building sustainable sanitation and solid waste management systems.

By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, March 22, Mana: District Commissioner for Nkhata Bay, Rodgers Newa has advised traditional leaders in Nkhata Bay to be in the forefront protecting fish in Lake Malawi to control depletion of valued species.

Newa said this Thursday, during stakeholder’s engagement meeting in the district aimed at equipping chiefs with rightful information about fishing and how they can deliver the same to the masses.

Newa said chiefs have a critical role to play in educating the masses in their communities on the need of preserving fish in the lake for the good of upcoming generation because they are the custodians of culture.

“I am happy to see that almost each and every Traditional Authority (TA) that has bordered with the lake is present here. This entails the trust that we have in you. There is an outcry that valuable species of fish like chambo are declining in the lake.

“Through this meeting, we need to critically find solutions together and then you should pass on the message to your communities because we know you have the capacity and people have trust in what you tell them unlike any other person,” Newa said

District Fisheries officer for Nkhata Bay, Delings Kamenya said the meeting was organized as one way of encouraging participatory fishing management.

“In participatory management, we share responsibilities in terms of management of aquatic resources. We realize the role that traditional leaders play to conserve the fish resources.

They have authority over people and we know that people out there know what is legal and illegal in as far as fishing is concerned and there is need for collective efforts to jealously guard the lake because people will not stop depending in fishing for survival,” Kamenya said.

In his remarks, Senior chief Mkumbira said the meeting was an eye opener on their roles, as chiefs, in conserving fish and provided a platform for the chiefs to network, share experiences and skills.

The meeting was organized by Nkhata Bay district council with support from USAID funded Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Malawi (REFLESH) Project.

By Leah Malimbasa

Chikwawa, March 22, Mana: Principal Secretary for National Unity in the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Dr Elizabeth Gomani Chindebvu, has called on traditional leaders and religious leaders to take a leading role in mind-set change for Malawi to achieve the Malawi 2063(MW2063).

Chindebvu was speaking Thursday in Chikwawa during a training workshop for traditional leaders and religious leaders which focused on mind-set change, hard work, wealth creation, prosperity and self-reliance.

“It is important to adopt a new mind-set to drive Malawi’s development forward. Malawi’s development blueprint, MW2063, has three pillars and seven enablers and among these enablers, mind-set change stands out as a crucial aspect championed by the ministry,” Chindebvu said.

She said Ministry of Local Government engaged traditional and religious leaders to align them with the MW2063 and empower them to guide their subjects and congregants towards prosperity and self-reliance.

She expressed optimism that messages that promote hard work will effectively be conveyed.

Senior Chief Ngabu acknowledged that leaders have the responsibility to encourage their subject to change their mind set towards sustainable development.

“Self-reliance is important. We should do away with dependence on hand-outs from government and organisations,” he said.

The Senior Chief added that people should contribute towards development and good policies should be put in place to encourage community participation.

Senior Chief Mlilima said Malawi needs concerted efforts and active citizen participation to achieve meaningful development.

Apart from Ngabu and Mlilima other traditional leaders that attended the meeting were senior chiefs Kasisi and Makhuwira as well as Traditional Authority Ngowe.

Faith leaders from African Evangelical Church, Church of Central African Presbyterian (CCAP) Apostolic Faith Mission of Malawi and Living Waters Church also attended the meeting.