By Steve Chirombo
Dedza, March 17, Mana: Dedza District Council Gender and Development Officer, Lisnet Dauya, has disclosed that this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) commemoration for the district will be done through cheering patients in both female and antenatal wards at Dedza District Hospital.
Dauya disclosed the plans Monday during a Gender Technical Working Group, which met in preparation for the event scheduled for Thursday this week.
She said the idea comes about due to resource constraints, as this year’s plan was to bring together women aspirants for an engagement so as to enable them realize that they have the zeal to compete just like any other candidate.
“We, therefore, emphasize the importance of women’s participation in politics as a crucial aspect of achieving gender equality. We believe that increasing the number of women in leadership positions will accelerate progress towards gender equality and improve the lives of women and girls,” she said.
According to Dauya, the event on Thursday will see them cheering about 120 women at the district hospital.
“We plan to buy them sugar, flour as well as soap. We realize that sickness is something that one doesn’t plan and when such happens, a lot of problems come in hence the support,” she said.
According to Dauya, their initial budget was pegged at K4 million but they have been supported with about K600,000 as well as other material support from the Ministry of Gender, Self Help Africa (SHA), Gender Injustice and the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP).
The global day celebrates women’s social economic, cultural and political achievements. It also recognizes women’s achievements and calls for action to accelerate progress towards gender parity.
In line with Malawi 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality), this year’s theme: “Accelerate action, emphasizing the need for swift and decisive action to achieve gender equality” aligns with the national and global commitments to achieving gender equality.
