MANAonline
Karonga DHO warns against use of urine to treat pink eye
By George Mponda
Karonga, March 13, Mana: With the viral conjuctivitis outbreak wreaking havoc in Karonga, the district health office (DHO) has warned residents who have the condition commonly called 'pink eye' against using home remedies to treat the disease.
In an interview on Tuesday, Director of Health Services for Karonga, David Sibale, said reports reaching his office indicate that people have resorted to using unconventional ways to treat themselves.
The district has recorded 3,147 cumulative cases with 11 cases where patients have vision loss.
“Sadly, we have noted that people are using things like urine and hand sanitizers to treat themselves. This is very dangerous as urine contains a lot of bacteria, and pouring this into the eye, you will end up with serious eye conditions and even irreversible blindness," he said.
Sibale warned that it is possible to get gonorrhea in the eyes if they get in contact with infected fluids like urine leading to partial or complete loss of vision.
The DHO has intensified health talks in camps where flood victims are living to contain further spread of the disease.
Esther Mapomba, a flood survivor staying at Kambwe Noil Camp, said she learnt of the remedy years ago from her grandparents and alot of people are using it to treat themselves.
"Besides that, even if we go to a hospital or even here at the camp, there is no medicine provided to treat people with this condition. We are in pain, so we use urine which gives a burning feeling but helps clear up the eye and within two days you come back normal," Mapomba said.
A Karonga resident, Lumbani Mtawali, who has contracted the disease twice said he used his urine to wash his eyes the second time and claimed the strategy worked effectively.
UK for stronger partnerships in climate change fight, financing
By Patricia Kapulula
Lilongwe, March 13, Mana: British High Commissioner to Malawi, Fiona Ritchie, has emphasized on the need for stronger partnerships amongst Commonwealth member states, and the world at large, in tackling threats of climate change.
She was speaking in Lilongwe on Tuesday evening, during commemorations to mark Commonwealth Day.
She said building resilience in the face of the many challenges the world is facing today is vital hence the call for partnerships.
“We cannot get anywhere as a Commonwealth family unless we work together to tackle threats of climate change. It is not only about funding but also innovation and ideas in coming together to discuss how we might tackle those problems together,” she said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nancy Tembo, called upon advanced nations to honour their pledges in dealing with climate change.
She said the call is not an issue of apportioning blame but for such countries to take an initiative to assist countries such as Malawi which are bearing the blunt of climate change yet they have not contributed much to such.
Malawi has since 2019 suffered from cyclones which have caused devastation year in year out.
“We have to bear the cost of construction. Instead of developing further we are going backwards because we have to go back to cover ground destroyed by these cyclones,” said Tembo.
Youth Activist, Patience Munyenyembe, who was key note speaker at the event, called upon government and all stakeholders to build a future that is resilient for all.
“If Malawi is to build resilience and adapt in the face of climate change, it needs partners as well as invest in the youth,” she said.
Commonwealth is a free association of 56 equal and independent member states which brings together 2.5 billion people across five geographic regions.
2024 marks 75 years of the association’s existence and Malawi’s 60th anniversary of becoming a member of the family.
The 2024 Commonwealth Day was held under the theme ‘One Resilient Common Future’ which highlights how the 56 member states must harness their strengths by building resilience, unlocking potential, leveraging the ‘Commonwealth Advantage’ and fostering a connected, digital Commonwealth.
Ministry of Health for disease prevention in camps
By Moses Nyirenda
Lilongwe, March 12, Mana: Ministry of Health says it is committed in adopting various measures that would help to prevent disease outbreaks in camps in Nkhota-kota district where people who were affected by floods are living.
This comes after Minister of Health, Khumbize Chiponda recently visited two camps in Nkhotakota district namely; Lunga which is in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Mphonde and Ngala camp which is located in T/A Kanyenda in the district.
Chiponda said that when people are overcrowded in camps there are health hazards, hence her ministry’s commitment to come up with measures aimed at preventing the disease outbreaks in the camps.
We have cholera in the country just like last year, so we want to make sure that within the camps there is no outbreak,” Chiponda said.
She added that her ministry is also vigilant to make sure that people living in the camps should not catch 'Pink eye' disease which has affected people in some parts of the country including Nkhota-kota district where so far 15 cases of the disease has been recorded.
She also said as part of the efforts to prevent diseases in the camps as a ministry, they have deployed; clinicians, nurses and Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) who are currently providing healthcare services such as vaccination for Children and antenatal clinics for pregnant women living in the camps.
According to the Minister, the ministry will continue to come up with measures like providing enough medical equipment and personnel in the camps in a quest to prevent disease amongst people living in the camps.
She further hailed partners for supporting government through her ministry to promote good health in the camps.
“We are so grateful that we have so many partners that are assisting us which include; World Health Organization (WHO), Red Cross as well as United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
Nkhotakota North Constituency Member of Parliament (MP), Henry Chimunthu Banda commended Ministry of Health for its commitment to adopting measures aimed at preventing disease outbreaks in camps saying that the gesture would promote good health among people living in the camps.
About 16,415 people were affected by floods which occurred on February 27, 2024 in Nkhotakota district; currently 10,529 survivors of the floods are living in 11 camps in the district.
Smallholder Mango growers equipped linked with markets
By Fostina Mkandawire
Salima, March 12, Mana: As one way of ensuring that smallholder mango farmers get the best value for their produce, the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) has equipped farmers with skills for proper management and market links.
Speaking in Salima on Monday when CIFOR-ICRAF organized a learning visit for mango smallholder farmers from Kasungu and Mzimba at Malawi Mangoes manufacturing company, Horticulturalist for Kasungu district Samuel Kumpolota emphasized the need for farmers to have links with markets.
"We wanted the farmers to understand the whole process of taking care of a mango tree, from planting to harvesting so that when they take their produce to the market it should be a product that cannot be denied because of its high quality," he said.
He said farmers should also understand different varieties of mangoes that are marketable, therefore the fruit value chain of mangoes is broad and it is important to teach the farmers all the processes.
"Some farmers are afraid of marketing their mangoes to companies because they have the notion that mangoes are sold in bulk and as individual farmers they cannot manage to produce such volumes, however it is possible to produce and sell even small quantities to companies," he said.
One of the smallholder mango growers who came for the learning visit from Mzimba district, Rose Kamanga hailed the visit to Malawi Mangoes Limited because she has been growing mangoes for 15 years but she was not realizing profits due to how she was managing her mangoes.
"At first I never took the business seriously but now my perception has changed with the trainings I have been receiving from ICRAF, I started selling my mangoes to Malawi Mangoes Limited in 2023, I saw a huge difference in the profits that I realized from the sales," she said.
She also said being a woman she used to look down upon herself with a perception that such business venture was meant for men fortunately that has changed with the capacity building she has been receiving.
CIFOR-ICRAF’s Malawi Senior Scaling Up Officer in Agroforestry, Christopher Katema said he sees immense potential in the mango value chain to enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farmer while simultaneously bolstering Malawi's export base.
He said the challenge is that many of the fruit growers are failing to find a market for their fibreless mangoes and some abandoned their improved orchards in favour of other crops," he said.
On this point he said CIFOR-ICRAF has provided opportunities to the smallholder fruit growers in Malawi, particularly those supported through the Agroforestry Food Security Program (AFSP I and II) funded by Irish Aid and the Flemish Government.
"We have facilitated the farmers to sell their good quality fibreless mangoes to Malawi Mangoes. About 50 growers have successfully sold their mango fruits to Malawi Mangoes Limited, we want to increase and diversify smallholder income, strengthen women’s economic empowerment, reduce intra-household inequality," he said.
The project aims to co-develop and test interventions and devise policy options to enhance women’s engagement and empowerment in high-potential, low-carbon food tree (FT) value chains (improved fruit and macadamia nuts).
Chakwera impressed with Marko Irrigation Scheme in Chitipa
By Aliko Munde
Chitipa, March 12, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has described Marko Irrigation Scheme in the area of Senior Chief Mwabulambya in Chitipa District as a game changer in fighting hunger.
Speaking when he visited the area to appreciate the irrigation scheme on Tuesday, Chakwera said the facility is in line with the country’s vision of achieving food security at household and national level.
“Let me thank people of this area for utilizing the irrigation scheme. We have seen that the irrigation scheme has already started improving the livelihood of farming households,” Chakwera said.
President for Marko Water Users Association ((WUA), Wachisa Muyaba applauded government for construction of the irrigation scheme, which he said has improved food security in the area.
Muyaba said that the irrigation scheme, which has 886 farmers, managed to harvest 60 metric tonnes of maize in the last growing season.
Muyaba said the area used to be hunger stricken all year round but it is now food secure with the construction of the irrigation scheme.
“We are able to grow crops three times a year hence farming households are realizing more harvests for food and surplus for sale to earn income for supporting their families,” Muyaba said.
Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale said the irrigation scheme has also increased job creation for people in the area.
The K1.8 billion Marko Irrigation Scheme was constructed by Programme for Rural Irrigation Development (PRIDE) project with funding from The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Solar power key to improving agro-industrialisation
By Monica Tambala
Lilongwe, March 12, Mana: Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Matola, has underscored the need to broaden the scope of sources of energy to create more affordable and sustainable opportunities within the local set up in order to improve the agricultural sector in Malawi.
He said more sustainable and affordable sources of energy would contribute positively to not only the development of irrigation but also livestock production and agro-processing among others.
Speaking at the opening of the Agri-energy Delivery Laboratory at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe on Tuesday, Matola said government is focused on agro-led industrialisation as it has the greatest scope for sectors that can drive inclusive economic growth and economic transformation.
“Today we are here unlocking issues of access to electricity; not only being connected to the grid but also using the God given natural resources such as solar to make this country go further in value addition.
“As President Chakwera has chosen three sectors in his administration, mainly Agriculture, Tourism and Mining (ATM) to drive economic transformation and all these require energy as their enabler,” he said.
Matola added that government’s removal of some taxes on solar equipment is a right step in ensuring easy access to electricity and affordability of energy for everyone.
Head of the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), Dr Janet Banda, said agro-industrialisation, which is the core driver of President Chakwera’s transformation agenda of job creation, wealth creation and food security remains a challenge due to high energy costs, limited grid network and power generation.
“Although strides have been made to curb the challenges like introduction of the special agriculture tariff to enhance access to affordable energy, there are still many users who are not yet connected to the power grid.
“Hence solar energy has become a very crucial source of power in the agro sector. However, there are several challenges associated with solar energy which needs to be thoroughly dissected and analysed,” she said.
She added that there are several solar powered agro-processing cooperatives across the country who are facing challenges of affordability, authenticity and sustainability of solar equipment which the agri-energy delivery lab is meant to find lasting solutions to.
One of the farmers from Mwalamba Cooperative in Mangochi, Falesi Dinesi, said they face challenges in accessing solar power hence the need for a transformer in their area so that they can boost sales in their respective businesses.
The Agri-energy Delivery Lab has been organised by PDU with financial support from Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP).
Japan supports Zomba Police College Hospital in healthcare
By Sellah Singini
Lilongwe, March 12, Mana: The embassy of Japan in Malawi has signed a K60 million grant with Zomba Police College Hospital for the importation of an ambulance to support the delivery of emergency health services in Zomba.
Speaking after the signing ceremony in Lilongwe on Tuesday, Ambassador of Japan to Malawi, Yoichi OYA, said although Zomba Police College Hospital makes a lot of efforts to provide quality health services to police officers as well as to the people of Zomba lack of an ambulance prevents the hospital from dealing with urgent needs.
He said the hospital is unable to cope with sudden changes in conditions, especially for pregnant women and critically injured patients, because it is using general vehicles to transport patients.
“Our development cooperation policy emphasizes the importance of human security, investment in people and human dignity. Japan has demonstrated its commitment to achieving universal health coverage in Africa as committed at TICAD 8 held in Tunisia in 2022. Japan is fully committed to assist Malawi to achieve the goals outlined in MW2063,” he said.
OYA strongly hopes that the provision of an ambulance will contribute to the provision of quality health services to police officers as well as Zomba residents.
He, therefore, urged the hospital to provide required care and maintenance for the ambulance.
The project is funded by the government of Japan under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects.
Deputy Inspector General of the Malawi Police Service, Happy Mkandawire, said the grant has come at the right time saying it will ease mobility challenges the hospital experiences in ferrying patients to Zomba Central Hospital.
“Let me express our profound gratitude to the government of Japan for their timely response at a time the hospital is in dire need of an ambulance. The ambulance will ease mobility challenges in ferrying patients in need of tertiary level health care. This will help in reduction of complications and preventable deaths that occur due to delays in ferrying patients to referral hospitals,” Mkandawire said.
He, therefore, assured the ambassador that the hospital will take all necessary measures in ensuring that the ambulance is put to good use.
Zomba Police College Hospital has a total catchment area of approximately 3,181 and offers health services to an average of 4,000 clients from the nearby surrounding community per month.
Likoma wears new face as first bank opens on the island
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, March 12, Mana: First Discount House (FDH) Bank on Monday officially opened a banking facility in Likoma, becoming the first bank to open a branch in the island district.
Speaking during the official opening of the bank, Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda commended FDH bank for the facility, saying it will help to improve socio-economic wellbeing of people in the district.
“I would like to appeal to people in the district to take advantage of the bank to improve their socio-economic wellbeing through safe keeping of their savings, borrowing to expand their businesses and accessing insurance services in case of eventualities, among others,” said Banda.
He said the bank has shown that it is a true and reliable government partner as it has spearheaded various development initiatives that are aligned with the government vision of turning Malawi into an inclusively wealthy middle income country.
Deputy Governor for Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) responsible for economics and regulation, McDonald Mwale said Likoma has for a long time been denied easy access to financial services due to reluctance of banks to open branches on the Island district.
“As RBM, which is the regulator of the banking industry in Malawi, we have always preached about financial inclusion whereby we encourage financial and banking services to be taken to the people.
“Thanks to FDH. Honestly, this is not a business decision but a decision to serve people. We have been hearing of people putting ATM cards together and sending someone to go and get money for them on the mainland which was very risky,” said Mwale.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Likoma Ashems Songwe said the absence of banks in Likoma District had been forcing people to keep millions of kwachas under their pillows while civil servants could be away for days to access their salaries on the mainland.
Loosening the grasp of divorce, ECD on families
By Leah Malimbasa
Chikwawa, 12 March, Mana: Joyce Maliko from Mastade Village, Traditional Authority Lundu in Chikwawa district is a symbol of the countless challenges faced by many single mothers in the country.
At the age of 27, Maliko has already been divorced twice with three children to look after all alone.
“I have three children; two from the first marriage and one from the second marriage which ended last year,” she explains.
The three children are all aged below 10 and each day the single mother has to deal with the harsh reality of seeing her children failing to attend school due to a lack of resources.
“We are surviving from piecework. I have no one to support me and my children, so whenever I get paid, I buy food just to keep us going but mostly I only afford one meal a day and some days we go without food,” she says amidst sobs.
Abandoned by their fathers, the family is just one thread in the complex tapestry of divorces and child support cases in the country.
Chikwawa District Courts Administrator, Lusekero Msopole says the district has seen a surge in divorce and child support cases in the past two years.
Says Msopole: “The numbers are staggering, with 1 481 divorce cases registered, of which 877 have been concluded, leaving 604 pending.
Child maintenance cases stand at 721, with 374 concluded and 347 pending. Ngwengwe Magistrate court emerges as the epicentre of the crisis having recorded the highest numbers at 610 divorce cases and 384 child maintenance cases.”
According to Msopole, child support is a legal obligation where a non-custodial parent is required to provide financial support to the custodial parent or care-giver of their child or children. It’s intended to cover the child’s basic needs, including shelter, food, clothing, education and medical care.
However, he observes that some parents fail to provide such support to due to financial hardships, lack of awareness or understanding, lack of communication, resistance, incarceration or disability, evasion and lack of enforcement.
Despite the latter forming part of the reasons for failure to provide child support, the law is clear on the issue.
Section 9 of the Childcare, Protection and Justice Act states that where a parent or any other person, who is legally liable to maintain a child or to contribute towards the maintenance of the child, neglects to maintain the child or to make the contribution, the child, parent of the child or guardian of the child may apply against such person to the Child Justice Court for a maintenance order of the child.
The Act further allows relatives of the child, a social welfare officer, a police officer, a teacher, a health officer and any other appropriate person to apply against such liable persons to the children’s court for a child maintenance order.
Section 18 of the Childcare, Protection and Justice Act states that maintenance orders shall be enforced 30 days after the order is made, but a Child Justice Court may, in appropriate circumstances, make an order for a longer period.
It also states on Section 22(1) (a) and (b) and 22(2) of the same Act that it is an offence for failing to provide support to the children and failure to maintain the child can either be liable to a custodial jail sentence or a fine of K50 000.
Chikwawa district social welfare officer Aaron Macheka says it is worrisome that some families face significant risks when divorce disrupts this foundation.
“The consequences extend beyond the emotional toll on children, basic needs become unattainable, social care breaks down, and vulnerable family members, particularly mothers, may find themselves exposed to abuse and exploitation,” he says.
Macheka adds that limited resources, coupled with emotional strain, often hinder the well-being and cognitive growth of young ones.
“The fractured family structure, often marked by a struggling mother, can lead to psychological distress for all involved, perpetuating a cycle of social issues,” Macheka observes.
Mental Health expert, Precious Makiyi concurs with Macheka that divorce takes a toll on early childhood development, creating a challenging environment for children in broken families.
“Divorce can impact early childhood development, influencing emotional well-being and behaviour and the children from the broken marriages may face challenges in forming secure attachments, leading to potential impacts on future relationships,” says Makiyi.
According to Msopole, child support laws play a crucial role in promoting early childhood development by ensuring that children have access to the financial resources and other support they need to thrive during their formative years.
Mostly our courts give orders in the best interest of these children to make sure that child support laws contribute to early childhood development, such as Financial Stability, Access to Resources, Reduced Stress, Parental Involvement and Legal Protection,
He advises: “It is important for parents to comply with child support orders to ensure the well-being and financial stability of their children. If circumstances change, such as a change in income or custody arrangements, it may be possible to apply for a variation of the child support order through our court system.
It’s important for parents to comply with court orders and to communicate any changes in circumstances that may affect the child support arrangement. Failure to comply with a court child support order can result in legal consequences.”
PIH scales up youth corners in Neno
By Wellington Sibale
Neno, March 12, Mana: Partners in Health (PIH) has scaled up youth corners in Neno in a bid to promote family planning and sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) services among the youth.
PIH Primary Health Care Manager, Issac Mphande, made the remarks on Monday during a review meeting which saw PIH handing over recreation materials to the youth.
He said bringing the youth closer to the service makes it easier for them to access SRHR services.
“We provide different recreation materials such as games like snake and ladders to make the youth busy as they interact with peers and health care providers,” said Mphande.
The initiative is supporting Ministry of Health to address health needs of young people in the district by establishing youth corners to reduce teenage and unintended pregnancies among adolescents.
Mphande said youths are engaged in community dialogue and youth open days to reach out to more youths.
“To make the project sustainable, we have trained health care providers and youth leaders on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and Youth Friendly Health Services,” he said.
Neno District Youth Officer, Ian Sukali, urged youths to patronize the corners and appealed to partners in the district to join the drive by providing recreation and sporting equipment across all the youth corners.
"PIH has supported with musical instruments. We need partners to come in and support the youth corners with sporting materials so that we should be able to attract young people to attend youth friendly services in large numbers," said Sukali.
He added that youth corners create safe place for adolescents to access SRHR and comprehensive services on sexual gender based violence.
The project is being implemented under the ‘No woman or girl left behind' with funding from Global Affairs of Canada.
PIH has scaled up to eight youth corners in Neno at Dambe, Nsambe, Ligowe, Neno DHO, Magaleta, Zalewa, Chifunga and Matope.
