By Mary Makhiringa

Balaka, January 21, Mana: The Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda on Monday launched the Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) campaign at Dziwe Health Centre in Balaka with a call for all to embrace the vaccine.

Chiponda said all vaccines are safe, well tested and approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), hence the need for people to change their mindset towards vaccines and start utilizing them.

Said Chiponda: “I have launched this OCV here at Dziwe, which is deep in the outskirts of Balaka, to show that good health service delivery must be equal to all despite the terrain or distance of the area.

“Balaka is one of the Cholera hotspots as it has recorded 75 cases and three deaths. That is why we thought of launching the vaccine in Balaka and specifically in this area as an extra measure to minimize the wide spread of the disease.”

The Minister said was impressed with the attitude of Sub Traditional Authority Mpilisi, traditional leader of this area, who was the first to be vaccinated.

“This has also increased the acceptance of the same by the members of the community as few minutes after the launch I saw people in long queues waiting to receive the vaccine. It simply shows that most people now understand the importance of the vaccine,” she said.

Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) Malawi office coordinator for World Health Organization, Dr. Aisi Akoso said as an organization, their aim was to ensure that there is equal access to health for all, and the launch of the Cholera vaccine goes a long way in ensuring that there was equal access to good health services to the people.

“WHO has provided 20 thousand doses of the vaccine and we are also providing technical and financial support for the deployment of the vaccine to the last mile, which means every household in every community identified as a hotspot of cholera, must be reached with the vaccine.

“With the Ministry of Health we are using diverse strategies to reach to the people with the vaccine, we have sites within the health facilities, temporary sites in different places such as high traffic areas like markets, water points as well as the schools, and we also have the door to door team so that everyone from one year above must be vaccinated,” she said.

Patuma James from Chikamana Village within Dziwe Health Centre hailed government for the vaccine saying all her family members and herself were all present and ready to be vaccinated.

“Last year, I came to this facility with my son, 25 years of age who got admitted because of Cholera. I know how dangerous the disease is. I almost lost my son; lucky enough I rushed to the hospital before the worst happened. Let me urge all who are still in denial to embrace this vaccine and have themselves protected,” she said.

The campaign is expected to run up to Friday, January 24, 2025, and once a person is vaccinated, he or she is immune of cholera for six months.

By Chisomo Kambandanga 

Nkhata Bay, January 21, Mana: Director of Disaster Preparedness in the Department of Disaster Management Affairs' (DoDMA), Moses Chimphepo, has announced government's plans to disburse over K730 million to support households affected by hunger in Nkhata Bay.

Chimphepo disclosed this on Monday during a briefing to Disaster Risk Management Committee members.

Chimphepo said the initiative is part of the ongoing 2024/2025 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme aimed at supporting families affected by hunger across the country.

"Instead of distributing bags of maize, Nkhata Bay, along with other districts like Kasungu and Mzimba, has been earmarked for the social cash transfer modality for the month of January.

"Each of the 10,494 households that are on the programme in Nkhata Bay will receive K70,000.00 cash, translating to K734,564,444.00," he said.

Chimphepo urged the council to avoid any fraud in the exercise so that intended beneficiaries benefit.

In his remarks, District Commissioner for Nkhata Bay, Rodgers Newa said the social cash transfer modality was good as it will enable beneficiaries to buy a bag of maize and remain with some cash.

"Let me commend DoDMA for this approach. Be assured that we will smoothly carry out the exercise according to your expectation and frameworks, building upon a number of cash disbursement programs that we already have in the district, " he said.

Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee report established that about 5.7 million Malawians will be in dire need of food aid during the lean period from October 2024 to March 2025.

By Bishop Witmos

Mangochi, January 20, Mana: National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) has kick-started the 2025/2026 budget review for district, municipal and city councils.

The exercise, which is taking place in Blantyre, is aimed at scrutinizing and validating the budgets of councils and cities, thereby ensuring that they align with national priorities and adhere to principles of effective resource allocation at the local government level.

Mangochi District Council was among the first councils that presented their projected budgets on Monday.

Speaking during the session, Mangochi acting District Commissioner, Davie Chigwenembe said that the council budget for the coming fiscal year is pegged at K 8.1 billion.

The budget includes central government transfers of K 7.8 billion, as well as a locally generated revenue of K306 million.

He said that through the budget, the council will priorities infrastructure developments in agriculture, education and health sectors, through the construction of irrigation schemes, rehabilitation of health facilities, as well as construction of girls’ hostels and schools.

‘‘As a district council, we want to advance on winter irrigation farming, to ensure that communities are food secure. Through this year’s budget, we have earmarked some traditional authorities such as Chimala where we will construct irrigation schemes.

‘‘To improve child education, we are planning to construct two girls’ hostels, as well as some school blocks in the district, with resources from Governance to Enable Service Delivery. On health, we will rehabilitate health facilities through the hospital rehabilitation project,” Chigwenembe added.

On finances, the acting District Commissioner said Mangochi was performing well in locally generated revenue in the current fiscal year such that by December 2024, the council collected K226 million, anticipating surpassing a K245 million target.  

He added that in the coming financial year, the council intends to collect K306 million from locally generated revenue.

In his remarks, a budget officer at the NLGFC, Jonathan Banda commended Mangochi District Council for performing well on revenue generation.

‘‘In most cases, district councils have difficulties in managing their resources due to large outstanding balances. It appears that Mangochi is doing well, and this is a commendable development,” said Banda.      

By Thula Chisamba

Rumphi, January 20, Mana: Rumphi District Hospital in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) has rolled out an oral cholera vaccination (OCV) exercise which is targeting 36000 people in the district.

Chief Preventive Health Officer for the district, Sam Chirwa said the move is a proactive response to an alarming upsurge of cholera cases in the district and the neighbouring Mzimba North.

“Currently, we have already registered 29 cholera cases, and the disease is reportedly fast spreading in neighbouring Mzimba North, particularly in areas like Vongo which is very close to us here,” said Chirwa.

He said the current vaccination drive aims to bolster immunity among vulnerable populations, particularly in the wake of the recent cases that have raised alarms about the potential for widespread transmission.

In an interview, one of the bicycle taxi operators at Rumphi Boma, Joel Msimuko said his business makes him susceptible to the infection hence would take the vaccine.

“I took it two years ago, and as per requirement doctors say I have to take it again this year. Even if they would recommend taking it every year, I would be taking it because my taxi business exposes me to the infection more than others,” said Msimuko.

Meanwhile, local health authorities in the district are also ramping up efforts to educate the public about preventive measures against cholera, including proper sanitation practices and the importance of boiling water before consumption.

In Malawi, Rumphi is one of the districts that is vulnerable to the disease. In 2022 over 783 cases and 13 deaths were registered in the district.

Currently, the district hospital has already stationed health workers in various locations throughout the district to ensure easy access to the vaccine during the campaign which will run until January 25^th this year.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium ‘Vibrio cholerae’.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), about 1.3 to 4 million cases of cholera and 21,000 to 143,000 deaths are reported each year across the globe.

By Sheminah Nkhoma

Lilongwe, January 20, Mana: Principal Secretary(PS)  in the Ministry of Information and Digitalisation, Baldwin Chiyamwaka,  has emphasised the need of team work for the betterment of the Department.

Speaking at the Department of information in Lilongwe on Monday where he interacted with the senior management and staff at the department,Chiyamwaka said it is important to remain competent in executing duties and continue providing support to the department.

“ I am part of this family and I am meant to work closely with you all members to achieve greatness. We appreciate  the work you do as this helps the department to improve its services ,” He said.

He then urged the staff at the department to take note and follow the Ministry's mandate as it is the bedrock of the ministry.

“ Let us strive to build each other up, to support each other and to work together towards a common goal,” He stated.

In his remarks, Director of Information at the department Arthur Chipenda commended the PS for coming and encourage the workers as it  provides an opportunity to interaction.