MANAonline
Private sector asked to finance the health sector
By Sellah Singini
Lilongwe May 2, Mana: Chief of Health Services–Technical in the Ministry of Health Dr. Lilian Chunda has asked the private sector in the country to finance the health sector in order to ensure that every Malawian is able to access high-quality healthcare services.
Chunda said this in an interview with journalists on Thursday in Lilongwe after a breakfast meeting on health financing which was organized under the theme “Unlocking Sustainable Healthcare Financing for Malawi: Leveraging the Private Sector”.
Chunda said, almost half of the health budget comes from the donors and instead of depending on the donors there is need to promote domestic revenue collection from government as well as the private sector so that the health system should not collapse when donors are pulling out.
“Health delivery is not cheap. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), health sector is supposed to spend almost 86 dollars per capital in terms of expenditure per patient but what we have in Malawi is half of that. And you only find that 10 percent of that goes to the actual service of the provision of patient care.
Some of the health services that we have are very expensive and as a ministry we cannot manage to do those things on ourselves so this is why we want the private sector to help us. They can help us in terms of the actual health service delivery for example doing Cardiology services, investing in infrastructures, helping in referral systems as well as supporting research and other innovations,” She said.
In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer for Press Trust Gibson Ngalamila said Press Trust has been involved in financing health initiatives both in private and public sector since 2001.
He said, in 2001 Press Trust saw a need to establish a tertiary health institution in the name of Mwaiwathu Private Hospital with an aim of making specialist care accessible in Malawi.
“We achieved that, but the facility itself is still very small as the ministry is saying that we need to expand services. We need to go into Oncology, Cardiology and many more. We have taken over the Orthopedic services and we are doing Dialysis but that is not enough because the population has increased and we are only available in Blantyre. We want to expand in Blantyre and we also want to move the services to Lilongwe,” Ngalamila said
Therefore, the ministry is calling us upon to mobilize funding from the private sector to build a business that can provide tertiary healthcare services to Malawians so that we do not refer a lot of Malawians outside the country such as India, South Africa and such other places,” He added.
He therefore urged the private sector to work together so as to lessen the financing burden the Ministry of Health faces.
75th Blantyre Derby promises fireworks
By Tione Andsen
Lilongwe, May 2, Mana: 75th Blantyre Derby promise fireworks as Defending TNM Champions, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets will play host to their traditional rivals, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers on Saturday at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
The Derby is expected to meet the desired performance the two teams have been displaying in the past encounters.
Bullets are fourth on the log table with two wins and two draws with eight points while Wanderers are third with the same number of points but they have superior goal difference over their rivals.
The battle for top spot in the 2024 TNM Super League remains cardinal for both teams owing to the fact that the price money for the champion has been increased to K 100 million from K40 million.
Bullets have dominated the league for the past six years and are aiming to register the seventh one at the expense of their rivals, Wanderers who once were crowned champions in 2017.
This will be the maiden encounter for Wanderers coach, Nsanzuarwimo Ramadhan as he has just returned to Malawi football after a long spell after coaching the two teams previous.
Although his returned was spoiled with a 1-1 draw against Kamuzu Barracks during the opened but the team managed to pick up and won two games before they were held to a goalless draw against Bangwe All Stars.
Bullets mentor, Callisto Pasuwa has a feel of the Blantyre derby with intense heat it brings on the table.
He will have use his available arsenals in order to edge his rival, Ramadhan but 90 minutes will tell and a better team will carry the day.
Wanderers defence need to be on watch out to their former striker now with Bullets, Ephraim Kondowe as he is proving to be a goal provider for the people’s team this season.
The wing defence need to patronize the movements of Patrick Mwaungulu and Lanjesi Nkhoma if they are to cut the supply line upfront.
However, the Nomads will depend on Christopher Kumwembe’s ability to win aerial balls against the paring of Bullets central defence of Collins Mujuru and Clyde Senaj.
If the Wanderers coach panel will include last year’s top goal scorer. Clement Nyondo on the starting line, they will add fire power upfront in order to give bullets defence tough time.
They are expected to attack through Wisdom Mpinganjira, Gaddi Chirwa and Isaac Kaliati from the midfield while Bullets midfield marshalled by Aaron Lloyd will have clearly monitor their moves.
Last year’s derby produced no winner as it all ended in 0-0 and 1-1 draws and both occasions, Wanderers were dominating play.
Both teams will be playing catch up game in order to reach 11 points to equal current league leaders, Silver Strikes.
The Bankers are facing log anchors, Baka City in Karonga and the games if they win will consolidate their lead on top.
“We are expecting a high quality derby and should be more entertaining. Supporters need to come in their numbers to watch the game. The battle for points is what the two teams are hoping for,” a Bangwe based football follower, Vincent Jumbe said.
He said with good officiation, the derby will entertain soccer fans.
Salima commences verification of new participants under the CSEPWP
By Fostina Mkandawire
Salima, May 2, Mana: As one way of increasing the number of participants under the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) from 16,813 participants to a target of 20,331 participants, Salima District Council has commenced validating and enrolling the participants into the programme.
Speaking during the validation exercise at Lilongwe catchment on Thursday, in the area of Senior Chief Kalonga, Acting Director of Environment and Natural Resources Adam Jason said he was optimistic that the district would meet the target.
Jason said it was a good development that more people will benefit from the programme while also anticipating to get a bigger environmental impact out of the programme.
"We are expecting to have an increase in areas of land under forest landscape restoration though the land has been affected with run-off water and deforestation, having more people on the ground working towards restoring the environment will be beneficial to the district," he said.
He said increasing the number of participants will also increase environmental productive assets such as regenerated forests and soil fertility which in turn will provide communities with food and fresh air.
"Apart from environmental gains there will also be an increase in number of communities with resilient livelihoods through the cash received through the project," he said.
One of the prospective participant of the programme, a 57 years old widower, Zione Nyakanyaka said she was happy that her name was called out during the validation exercise, saying that she takes care of her family, therefore the money she will receive will help in alleviating her poverty.
"I take care of my grandchildren and orphans, we are struggling with hunger, to be given a chance to work under this programme is such a relief," she said.
Desk Officer for CS-EPWP in the district, Gift Majawa expressed optimism that the district will be able to meet the target which signifies a 15 percent increase.
He said they intensified awareness campaign ahead of the exercise therefore turn out has been good during the validation exercise.
"We have an additional 3,518 participants to be enrolled into the programme from, it is very important to ensure that people continue showing up during the validation exercise so that they can be enrolled into different projects in their catchment areas," he said.
National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGC) is set to revise the number of participants of CSEPWP in the country from 435,000 to 520,000.
CS-EPWP is a component under the Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project (SSRLP). The SSRLP is a Malawi Government project funded by the Multi Donor Trust Fund facilitated by the NLGFC in all the 28 district councils.
Mzuzu police calls for community participation in reducing crime
By Tracy Mtegha and Blessings Preston Memena
Mzuzu, May 2, Mana: Officer in- Charge for Mzuzu Police Station, Donnie Chiponda has appealed to residents of Mzuzu City to play a role in reducing criminal activities within the city and its surrounding areas.
Chiponda made the call Thursday, during Mzuzu Police Station Executive Committee(SEC) meeting which was organised by the police to share achievements registered in the first quarter of 2024 with the residents.
He said increased community participation in safety and security issues will help in solving some of problems that police when in curbing crime in the city.
“We need community policing structures such as neighborhood watch forums especially during night to reduce criminal activities which are rampart of late,” said Chiponda.
Chairperson for the SEC, Manish Rampariya emphasized on the importance of networking and coordination between police and community members in curbing robbery and theft within the city and sub-urban areas.
“We have so far enhanced security and everything is going on well as we are trying to achieve more,” said Rampariya.
Chairperson for Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (APAM) for Mzimba North, Takondwa Nungu hailed the Mzuzu Police Station for working tirelessly in ensuring their security and that of everyone else.
“They are working tirelessly to provide safety to people with albinism. The security is good as we have been provided with security alarms which we can trigger to alert people whenever we are attacked,” Nungu said.
Numbers of criminal cases in Mzuzu City have within the quarter reduced from 412 to 392 as registered in the similar period last year.
It was also reported that road traffic accidents have reduced to 51 from 86 as recorded last within the months of January to April last year.
KK Council commends MP Chimunthu Banda on CDF
By Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, May 2, Mana: Nkhotakota District Council has commended Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkhotakota North Constituency, Henry Chimunthu Banda for construction of an Extension Planning Area (EPA) with funding from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in his area.
Speaking during the commissioning of the new offices at Kasitu EPA in the area of Senior Chief Kafunzira, Chairperson for Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Service Committee at Nkhotakota District Council, Councilor Watison Mkute, said the infrastructure will help the council in its developmental activities citing that since 2007 there has been no infrastructure that was recognized as EPA's offices in the area.
He further hailed community members in the area for their commitment and participation in the implementation of the project, which he said will positively change the area.
"Let me call upon people from the areas of senior chief Kafunzira, Sub Traditional Authority Kamphambale, and Katumbi, Chimunthu Banda has just constructed the building but we need to play a crucial role in assisting in taking care of the infrastructure,” said Mkute.
Meanwhile, Chimunthu Banda advised relevant authorities to always ensure they implement flagship development projects to be in line with Malawi 2063 using funds that are received through district councils in the country.
Chimunthu Banda, who is also former Speaker of Parliament said providing such projects that are crucial to people's livelihoods can go a long way in developing the country.
"We have spent a total of 32.6 million kwacha to construct a new Kasitu EPA office and procure furniture. I think as lawmakers we need to lead in developing the country, we need to implement flagship development projects which are crucial to communities," said Chimunthu Banda.
Kasitu Extension Planning Area provides technical support on Agricultural activities to over 20,000 farmers in the area of Senior Kafunzira, Sub Traditional Authority Kamphambale, and Katumbi in the district.
Cholera outbreak hits Nthalire in Chitipa
By Aliko Munde
Chitipa, May 2, Mana: Chitipa Health Office (DHO) has confirmed one case of Cholera of a six-year-old boy in Traditional Authority (TA) Nthalire in Chitipa District.
Spokesperson for Chitipa DHO, Masida Nyirongo said that Nthalire Health Centre, Monday registered two cholera suspected cases and that the patients were symptomatic and they were isolated for treatment.
Nyirongo added that health personnel collected specimens for culture for conclusive confirmation.
“One specimen has grown vibrio cholerae. Meaning we have one confirmed Cholera case,” Nyirongo said.
One suspected case has come out negative and one positive. The positive case is that of a six-year-old boy from Kamkwamba Village in TA Nthalire in the district,” said Nyirongo.
Nyirongo said that the District Rapid Response Team will soon be dispatched to assess the situation in the area.
“Last year's Cholera outbreak did not hit the southern part of Chitipa. It only affected the northern part of the district. We will intensify cholera preventive messages to contain the outbreak as soon as possible,” he said.
In a separate interview, TA Nthalire said he will soon embark sensitization meetings on Cholera preventive measures.
“I will go flat out in my area sensitizing my subjects on the importance of practicing good hygiene and sanitation,” he said.
Last year the district registered 96 cholera cases with three deaths.
Waste Management to improve in Neno
By Salome Gangire
Neno, May 2, Mana: Director of Planning and Development for Neno District Council, Charles Lomoni has said the council expects an improvement in waste management in all its markets following the construction of Mbemba Dumping Site with funding from Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD).
Lomoni said the project, which is in the second phase, will among others, help the council in getting rid of its piled garbage that is a hurdle to the lives of both market users and merchants.
In an interview on Thursday, Lomoni said the dumping site is being done in phases, noting that phase one is almost completed and that now they are doing second phase.
“We will see to it that the dumping site is completed soon as it is a very important facility; as you know environmental management cannot be done without disposing of the waste into one place,” Lomoni said.
Lomoni said the project is expected to be completed by December this year.
He said in the meantime, the council has dug temporary pits at Zalewa and Neno Turn-off with support from Zalewa Lime Company where the waste is being disposed.
He disclosed that the council is also negotiating to have another waste yard at former Malawi Young Pioneers Base to carter for the Boma area.
“As a temporary measure, we have dug a pit behind the market where all the waste is disposed and what is remaining is to protect the area so that it should not be harmful to communities around,” he said.
Other than managing waste, Lomoni said the project will also be beneficial to the citizens since they will be able to harvest manure from the site and improve crop productivity.
“We believe this facility will serve its purpose and help us achieve some milestones in as far as waste management is concerned. We also hope to help our farmers through compost manure and also beat recurring diseases such as cholera and endemics like typhoid,” he said.
Neno District Council Environmental Officer, Kenneth Pondamali said few things are remaining at the waste yard for it to become operational.
“For the waste yard to be complete there is need to finalise the construction of toilets, guard house, sorting area, composting unit and dumping pit for non-biodegradable waste,” Pondamali said.
He added that so far, the council has received funding under GESD performance based grants three to continue with the construction works at the facility and the issue of waste management will be sorted.
A resident around the dumping site, Aubrey Gama said he anticipates that his crop yields will improve since the site is close by and it will be easy for him to access the manure and even recycle some garbage and improve his livelihood.
“I am optimistic that this project will help people not only around the site but also from elsewhere to have clean environment and also turn the waste into something else valuable,” Gama said.
Mbemba Dumping Site is along the M6 corridor and will also manage waste from Chifunga and Zalewa trading centres.
Catholic men urged to be exemplary in society
By Brian Wasili
Mwanza, May 2, Mana: Catholic men in the country have been urged to preserve their integrity by being exemplary to society and their families so that their children were groomed into responsible as well as productive citizens.
Archbishop of Blantyre Archdiocese, Thomas Luke Msusa made the call at this year’s national celebrations of Catholic Men Association (CMA) held at St Paul’s Parish in Mwanza District on Wednesday.
“We cannot develop as a country if the men are not responsible and patriotic and this starts from the family whereby one is brought up,” said Msusa.
Msusa who was accompanied by Bishop Montifort Sitima of Mangochi Diocese condemned men who drink excessively and irresponsibly, noting that such behavior affects their children because they do not have time to attend to their needs as a result their education is compromised contributing to school dropout.
“Men have to emulate Joseph in the Holy Bible who loved his wife and was God fearing, hardworking and most importantly; provided needs of his family in which Jesus Christ was born and brought up with desirable characters,” said Msusa.
In an interview, CMA national chairperson, Gibson Mkanda of Kagwa Parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe commended men in the Catholic Church for accepting the calling to serve God through the association.
“Some men regard themselves as busy people so that it is difficult for them to take part in religious activities but I can challenge them that if we put God first everything is possible,” said Mkanda.
Mkanda, therefore, asked his Catholic male counterparts in the country who are yet to join the association to be part of it at their respective churches so that they can spiritually get strengthened by sharing life experiences with fellow men and also do some charity activities together.
In a separate interview a member from Mzedi Parish in Bangwe Deanery of the Blantyre Archdiocese, Stephano Kashoni acknowledged the role the association has played in his spiritual life, saying it has increased his spiritual growth.
“The lessons conducted during our meetings have helped me to find solutions to challenges that I face in my life as an individual and as a family,” said Kashoni.
The CMA celebration is an annual event held on May 1 to commemorate the good work which was done by ‘St Joseph the Worker’ and globally it coincides with the commemoration of World Labour Day.
Theme for this year’s event which started with a Holy Mass was taken from the book of Joshua Chapter 15 Verse 24: ‘But as for me and my household, will serve the Lord’ and it was attended by a priest and two nuns from Dzobwe Parish of Tete Diocese in Mozambique and various representatives from all the eight dioceses of the Catholic Church in the country.
Mozambican DC apologises for death of Malawian fisherman
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, April 30, Mana: District Commissioner (DC) for Cobue in Mozambique, Rachide Serafim has apologized over death of a Malawian fisherman who reportedly died while in the custody of Mozambican police.
Mozambican police officers arrested the fisherman, identified as Amidu Wilima, 35, from Chonde Village in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Kanyenda in Nkhotakota, for allegedly fishing on the Mozambican side of Lake Malawi on April 18, 2024.
The officers however brought Wilima to Likoma dead and in handcuffs, which angered people on the island district.
Speaking when he visited for bilateral talks with Likoma District Council on Monday, Serafim expressed concern that Malawians were blocking Mozambican nationals from accessing social services in the district in displeasure with circumstances that led to Wilima’s death.
“People think that he was deliberately killed by our police officers, however such was not the case. The man was not cooperative and violent when he was arrested. He ended up drowning into the lake while escaping from police custody.
“This scenario has affected our relationship with people here as they are blocking our people from accessing health services in the district. This is putting them at a disadvantage, particularly those who rely on health facilities in Likoma District,” Serafim said.
He urged Malawians entering Mozambique to abide by that country’s laws and Mozambicans to do likewise when they enter into Malawi.
Director of Finance (DOF) for Likoma District Council, Wilson Muziya, speaking on behalf of the District Commissioner, said the meeting with the Mozambican counterparts was fruitful as they discussed a range of issues aimed at promoting peace and harmony among people in Likoma and Cobue districts.
“Their coming was actually good for the strengthening of our relationship. One of the issues we discussed was to sensitize community members on both sides on how to respect each other’s country’s laws and regulations when they cross borders,” said Muziya.
Neno council urged to embrace Strategy to end GBV*
By Wellington Sibale
Neno, May 2, Mana: The Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare has urged Neno District Council to champion National Male Engagement Strategy (NMES) and Public Service Workplace Anti-sexual Harrassment policy to end gender based violence.
Principle Gender and Development Officer in the ministry, Japhet Chirwa made the call on Tuesday during a Technical Working Group meeting on National Male Engagement Strategy on Gender Equality, GBV, SRHR and HIV with stakeholders in the district.
Chirwa said the Ministry decided to come up with the strategy to guide implementation of various interventions.
He added that there has been a gap in terms of male engagement, especially about interventions aimed at advancing gender equality and end gender based violence.
“This male engagement strategy will ensure that both boys and girls, men and women are part and parcel of efforts that are targeted on ending gender based violence,” said Chirwa, observing that women was the only population targeted when tackling issues of gender related abuses leaving out males hence the strategy to address the gap.
“We would like to enhance awareness on already existing gender related roles and policies and at the same time we would like to capacitate existing structures in the districts especially tackling the community level that they should include boys and men on issues of Gender Based Violence.” He added.
Neno District Council's Director of Planning and Development, Charles Lomoni, said that the strategy was important
“Male Engagement Strategy will help in bringing both men and women together to work as one which will in turn bring about development," Lomoni said.
The 2023-2030 NMES aims at promoting male involvement in ending GBV, reducing HIV and participating in SRHR.
