MANAonline
Chiefs crucial in educating youths on matters of SRH -First Lady
By Sellah Singini
Lilongwe, September 17, Mana: First Lady Madam Monica Chakwera has said traditional leaders are crucial in educating and guiding young people on matters of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and that their influence can prevent early pregnancies and child marriages, thus securing a better future for our youth.
Chakwera said this at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe on Tuesday during a national engagement meeting with senior chiefs on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).
She said adolescents and young girls hold the potential to contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of Malawi, especially as the country is in the process of implementing the Malawi 2063 hence, they need protection and access to Sexual and Reproductive Health services.
“In Malawi, the challenge of early pregnancies among adolescents is deeply concerning as about 29% of girls aged 15-19 have either given birth or are pregnant, which significantly contributes to high rates of maternal and neonatal complications.
“I am aware that teenage pregnancies account for 25% of all births in the country. Even more alarming is the fact that teenage pregnancies are responsible for 18% of maternal mortality. These young mothers are at most vulnerable, and the health of both mothers and their children is at risk,” she said.
The First Lady further said Malawi faces another major health crisis of cervical cancer, with a prevalence rate of 51.5% and a death rate of 67.9%.
She said, that while efforts to screen and detect this deadly disease have led to 46.2% screening coverage, the country remains behind regarding where is it supposed to be, therefore calling for a multi-sectoral approach to protect the health and future of women and girls.
In his remarks, Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda said her ministry organized the national engagement meeting with the First Lady and Senior Chiefs intending to reduce child marriages and teenage pregnancies.
She noted that chiefs play a pivotal role in empowering our young people to make informed decisions that shape a brighter future.
She also said, that as custodians of culture, chiefs have to advocate for early antenatal visits, hospital deliveries, and access to Sexual Reproductive Health services and can also champion bringing these services closer to the people.
During the meeting, the First Lady was given a role to be a champion in SRHR focusing on reducing teenage pregnancies, child marriages and promoting the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and she will work together with the chiefs.
Digital Transformation Set to Bridge the Justice Gap
By Sellah Chunda
Lilongwe, September 17, 2024: In a significant move towards modernizing Malawi's judicial system, the government has launched its E-Justice initiative, which aims to improve access to justice, particularly for marginalized communities.
The announcement was made during the Malawi E-Justice National Conference held at the Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe, from September 17th to 18th, 2024.
Minister of Justice, Titus Mvalo, highlighted the government's commitment to embracing E-Justice.
“As government, we are determined to fulfill e-justice. We acknowledge the gap in computer literacy; hence, we will ensure this gap is addressed from the primary school level. Additionally, we will establish community ICT centers to give people in villages access to computers and E-Systems.” Mvalo stated.
Mvalo underscored the financial and time-saving benefits of digital justice, aiming to enhance efficient court proceedings and ensure timely delivery of justice.
“The implementation of E-Justice systems requires substantial investment, not only financially but also in education and public sensitization. The benefits, however, are significant—greater transparency, improved record management, and a stronger fight against corruption,” he said.
UNDP Resident Coordinator, Fellena Frost, also emphasized the importance of digital transformation, stating that UNDP is committed to supporting digital transformation to improve service delivery.
"Malawi is making significant progress in its digital transformation, particularly in expanding access to justice. The introduction of digital solutions like E-Courts is bringing judicial services closer to the people, irrespective of their location or financial standing.
“This is especially important for rural communities, where traveling to courts can be costly and time-consuming," Frost said.
Frost stressed the need for strong government commitment, particularly in terms of budget allocation for digital transformation.
“The presence of both the Minister of Justice and the Chief Justice at the conference signals a strong commitment to this cause. In comparison to other nations, Malawi has made notable strides, but there is still room for growth,” she explained.
In his remarks, Chief Justice Rizine Robert Mzikamanda stressed the importance of increasing computer literacy from an early age to improve the efficiency of service delivery. He called for continuous public sensitization and the adaptation of E-Justice solutions to local contexts.
The conference, themed "Relying on Digital Transformation to Close the Justice Gap," brought together various stakeholders to discuss and gather ideas for the successful implementation of E-Justice in Malawi.
Security expert condemns mob justice in the country.
By Prisca P. Mashushu
Lilongwe, September 17, MANA: Security expert Aubrey Kabisala has condemned mob justice in the country as it is against the laws of the country.
In an interview with Malawi news agency (MANA), Aubrey Kabisala emphasized that mob justice brings tremendous implications and destroys evidence of people committing crimes, hence denying natural justice that is given to offenders of the law to defend themselves.
“The participants of mob justice are also offending the law, which is also a challenge rather, people should avoid taking the laws into their own hands.
"People should be encouraged to report to police any misconduct that is happening in their perspective communities as one way of reducing issues of mob justice in the country,” Kabisala said.
He further said mob justice is not a solution for offenders of the law rather, people should allow them to follow the right procedures and obtain justice for both offenders of the law and the victims.
Meanwhile, Lucky Mbewe who is a social commentator said that everything is happening due to a lack of trust from the right stakeholders by the natives which is also a burden to people who seek justice from offenders of the law hence a need to build trust between people and lawmakers.
He further said that despite mob justice becoming rampant the Malawi police service and the courts of the nation are working tirelessly to bring justice to the victims and prevent mob justice in the nation.
“I would like to appeal to Malawians, to make sure to remember that capital punishment is not acceptable by the laws of the country and if anyone is misbehaving, allow the police to address the problem,” he said.
VSL a tool for poverty alleviation – Action Aid
By Doreen Chiwalo
Mwanza, September 17, Mana: Action Aid through its Tipindule Project has expressed satisfaction with Village Savings and Loans (VSL) groups in Mwanza District.
The VSL groups are, among others, making progress by making profits through savings and loans; saying this is the right direction in economic empowerment at the household level in the district.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Tuesday, Action Aid Project Field Facilitator, Gift Kifwamba said he was impressed to note that huge sums of money expected to be shared soon have been saved by the groups but started with a small amount.
“I am very grateful to see people in rural areas like learn about savings of up to K3.3 million in the form of shares in their bank account because it will help individuals to buy food, a development which is in line with the project’s area of focus,” said Kifwamba.
He deplored misinformation among some people who take VSLs as an agenda for women only, instead, he encouraged male counterparts in the district to join so that poverty is reduced in their households.
Secretary for Chimwemwe VSL group from Lipenga Village in Inkosi Kanduku Maseko’s area, Joyce Chilekwa said before joining the group she was unable to buy some basic needs for her household.
However, she said since she joined the VSL she has been able to buy a bag of fertilizer ahead of the farming season which will help her to harvest high yields and sell the surplus to pay school fees for her children.
“Before joining this group, life was very hard because I had a family to look after as well as school fees to pay but now, I get a soft loan from the group and solve such problems,” said Chilekwa.
She also encouraged her fellow women who are yet to join VSLs instead of relying on ‘katapira’ where interest rates are unreasonably high.
Chimwemwe VSL group was established in January 2021 and now has 15 members and their savings are expected to be shared in December this year.
CAYE geared to support CBCCs
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, September 17, Mana: Center for Advancement of Youth Empowerment (CAYE) a local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) based in Mzuzu says there is need for a collaborated effort in providing required necessities to Community Based Childcare Centers (CBCC).
CAYE Executive Director Aaaron Kumwenda, made the call Tuesday in Dzalanyama in the area of Traditional Authority Masula in Lilongwe during a meeting with Masula Community Based Organization Network Executive Committee members.
Kumwenda noted that many CBCC in the country do not have required materials for both learning and teaching the children, a development he said is worrisome.
“We are intending to work hand in hand with 20 CBCC in the area of Traditional Authority Masula by among other things, establishing backyard gardens and woodlots so that Caregivers should be raising some money from it, for their upkeep and providing nutritious food to the children,” he said.
Kumwenda further said the project intended to build capacity building among Caregivers and at the same time reduce the teacher-pupil ratio in these CBCCs which he said it is still very high.
“We noted that in TA Masula, there are over 80 CBCCs, but out of 15 Caregivers that were trained in 2015, only three Caregivers are still working. This means that in other CBCCs, children just go there to play, which is bad,” he said.
Commenting on the matter, Masula Community Based Organization Chairperson Shaviel Grevazio said there is need to improve CBCCs infrastructure saying many of them are in dilapidated state.
Grevazio then thanked CAYE for planning to carry out different interventions of CBCCs in the area, a development he said will increase enrolment of children in CBCCs.
Speaking in a separate interview, Child protection worker in Traditional Authority Masula Friday Chawantha thanked CAYE for the initiative saying it will boost CCBCs activities in the area.
Chawantha then asked CAYE to consider training Caregivers and provide them with necessary teaching and learning materials saying many of them are not trained making their job difficult.
“The team of Caregivers that we have now have got passion on their job, but the main challenge is that they are not well supported. We want to thank CAYE for coming in to complement government’s efforts in improving the standards of CBCCs in the country,” he said.
CAYE is working in improving the standard of CBCCs in Traditional Authority Masula in Lilongwe with funding from Their World Charity Fund in the United Kingdom.
Ministry commends UNFPA’s unique support for young people living with HIV
By Zenak Matekenya
Dedza, September 17, Mana: Chief Youth Officer in the Ministry of Youth Doreen Mbendela has commended UNFPA for tailor-made programs targeting young people living with HIV and AIDS.
She made the remarks on Monday in Dedza during the opening of a week-long Trainer of Trainers and Piloting Workshop on the iCAN package for young people living with HIV funded by UFPA.
Mbendela said the ministry struggles to support young people living with HIV and Aids as most funders bring projects that target youth in general.
“National youth policy advocates for healthy living for young people and our key priority target group is young people living with HIV and Aids. However, we struggle to support their specific needs adequately because the rest of the projects target the youth in general,” she said.
She said the Safeguard Young People program will promote engagement with young people living with HIV and Aids to support them to overcome stigma and to access health care and other human rights for them to live like anyone else.
Comprehensive Sexuality Education Specialist and Disability Focal Point for UNFP East and Southern Region Maria Bakaroudis said sexuality education for young people serves lives.
“It gives the correct information about their health and well-being so that they can prevent issues like teenage pregnancies, STIs, gender-based violence.
“They learn skills that help them communicate effectively, negotiate and make good decisions for their lives,” she said.
She said young people living with HIV have the same hopes and dreams of having their own family, and career but sometimes lack information on how to handle issues of disclosing their status, how to handle stigma and discrimination and leave positively by hearing about their treatment.
UNFPA Deputy Representative, Officer In-charge Dr. Ezizgeldi Hellenov said the training will revise National Adaptation and Piloting of the revised iCAN package.
He said Malawi’s statistics of 2.09 percent of adolescent girls and young women aged between 15 - 24 living with HIV is alarming adding 3, 300 adolescents contracted HIV last year representing 22 percent of all new infections.
He said UNFPA is committed to delivering comprehensive sexuality education to both schools and out-of-school settings anchored by programs that include The Global Programme on CSE for Out-of-school Youth.
Safeguard Young People is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Dedza loop road contractor given deadline
By Zenak Matekenya
Dedza, September 17, Mana: Roads Authority has expressed disappointment over the prolonged construction of the 5km Dedza loop road and has asked the contractor to complete the project before the onset of the rainy season.
The project which costs over K2 billion started in July 2023, and was scheduled to be completed within six months, but was partially affected by the devaluation of the Kwacha.
On Monday the citizenry engaged the Roads Authority over the contractor’s assumed incompetence characterized by lack of progress, inadequate equipment, lack of road signs and dust pollution.
In an interview, Dedza District Council chairperson Stanley Manasse said the contractor's conduct threatens people’s health and causes accidents and damage to vehicles.
“People of Dedza demanded a meeting with the Roads Authority because they are the ones who identified the contractor.
“We expect the contractor to expedite the work, contain dust pollution, put diversion signs and fix portholes on those diversions,” he said.
Chairperson for Dedza Civil Society Organisation Osborne Nyirongo criticised the delay arguing that it is compromising people’s right to economic opportunities and overall well-being.
“We will continue engaging the National Roads Authority as they also talk to the contractor and we challenge them that if things don’t change, we might as well go on the street to demonstrate so that the road can be completed,” he said.
Roads Authority Malawi Senior Public Relations Specialist Portia Kajanga said the concerns were genuine saying the contract has taken longer than expected.
She said the contractor was given 24 hours to identify a water bowser to contain dust pollution and ensure the work was completed before the onset of the rainy season.
“There were some challenges on both the contractor's side and the authority but we have discussed those challenges and we will continue discussing,” she said.
She said the job was advertised publicly and when the contractor was being hired he had all the required equipment for the work.
The contractor Pams, denied to comment on the matter saying conditions of the contract do not allow them to do so.
Fighting morbidity and deaths through community participation
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, September 17, Mana: Naching’anda Health Post, an under-five clinic under Chisasu Health Centre, perches on the foot of the towering Misuku Hills about 40 Kilometres North East of Chitipa Boma.
It is considered one of the hard to reach areas owing to its inaccessibility, especially during the rainy season when the road snaking up the mountain ranges become impassable.
Even during the dry season like this one, the road is bumpy and dusty making driving up and down the hills nightmarish and precarious.
A Health Surveillance Assistant (HAS) manning the facility, Jack Mkhala has said transport woes impact healthcare delivery in the area as moving supplies such as vaccines from Chisasu becomes difficult.
“We do not have storage facilities for vaccines. These are kept at the mother facility at Chisasu.
“This means one has to go there and get them to be administered. But with transport problems, it means if they are not collected on that material day, the administration schedule will have to be adjusted,” he said.
Mkhala added this rescheduling could plant elements of doubt and despair amongst the healthcare service users who may in turn not show up again for immunisation.
“Already there are many factors that affect immunisation – some being myths and religious beliefs. So we must avoid creating more scenarios that would discourage people from coming for immunisation,” he stated.
With such understanding, women in the area have decided to intervene to ensure that there is proper access to healthcare services especially immunisation.
Under a grouping known as Malambwa Mother Care Group (MCG), 30 women have volunteered to drive change in the area by streamlining provision of health services at Naching’anda.
Trained by Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN), the women and at least one village chief as a patron, are community volunteers who support service delivery, and advocate and mobilise resources for healthcare.
Specifically, they are responsible for tracing women that default on antenatal and neonatal visits, conducting sensitisation and advocacy meetings on maternal and neonatal healthcare services and registering newly born babies and expectant mother.
Chairperson for the MCG, Saida Sichali noted that as volunteers, they conduct campaigns to ensure that mothers take their under-five children for immunisation against various diseases as required.
“We have managed to build a clinic, spacious enough and better than what we initially had. After the clinic project, we embarked on constructing a house for the HSA but is not yet ready for occupation.
“We want the HSA to be operating from within and not in rented houses far from the facility which also affects service delivery,” she said.
Sichali viewed that the construction of the clinic and the staff house was enough evidence that women are geared to promoting healthcare delivery in the communities.
Another member of the grouping, Christina Mhango, said they are involved in providing health and peer education on the importance of hospital deliveries, risks associated with home deliveries and importance of vaccination for under-five children.
“We go village by village looking for pregnant women, lactating mothers and children. We check their cards and those found that they missed some vaccination, we make sure that they get it.
“So generally, our work involves making sure that people get vaccinated against diseases. We mobilise people to accept vaccines and in the end have communities that are fully immunized,” she said.
Mhango added that the group’s wish was to have their under-five structure connected to the electricity grid so that they are given their own storage facilities for vaccines to counter transport hitches.
Since the 2009 World Health Organisation’s (WHO) ban of traditional birth attendants conducting deliveries, various stakeholders, led by the Ministry of Health, have been conducting campaigns urging women to deliver in hospitals and pushing for acceptable immunisation rates.
The WHO launched an expanded programme on immunisation (EPI) in 1974 which marked the beginning of the global efforts to use immunisation as a public health intervention.
As a way of domesticating the efforts, stakeholders in the health sector including the Ministry of Health are leading campaigns, calling for mass immunisation of children.
The current Malawian expanded programme on immunisation prescribes basic vaccination to include whooping cough, tetanus, measles, poliomyelitis rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccine. Others include those against chicken pox, diphtheria, influenza, measles, hepatitis and malaria.
There are vaccines for adults and these include those against Covid 19 and cholera, among others.
Deputy EPI coordinator for Chitipa District, Tamanadni Juma lauded the work of MCGs saying they have helped to improve immunisation status for the district.
There are 30 MCGs in Chitipa translating to a force of 300 women and 10 chiefs.
“As a district, we were not doing well in terms of immunisation. Records show that before the establishment of MCGs way back in 2018, we were between 50 to 60 per cent.
“This time, we have seen a big improvement. For example, last quarter, we were at 81 percent and this is largely attributed to the work of the MCGs,” she said.
Juma said the district was poised to take the figures further higher because it has deployed “enough” HSAs who will work hand in hand with the MCGs.
“Initially, our challenge has been inadequate human resource but now we have deployed adequate HSAs and together with the MCGs, we expect to go beyond 90 per cent.
“The other challenge is the topography of the district which poses challenges in terms of transport. Largely we rely on motorcycles to transport vaccines but our fleet is old,” she pointed out.
Juma adds that Immunization is the only preventive measure to counter morbidity especially when coverage is over 80 per cent in every antigen.
To benefit from direct and indirect impact of immunisation, WHO through its global vaccine action plan set country targets of 90 percent coverage for all antigens by year 2020. Vaccines reduce and eliminate diseases that would otherwise kill or severely disable people.
“Our plea is that MHEN should consider extending this project. We need more training for these MCGs and find ways of sustaining them because they have proved very crucial in mobilizing people for immunisation,” she said.
MEHN is implementing a Health Systems and Immunisation Strengthening (HSIS) project to contribute towards the achievement of Malawi health targets for Sustainable Development Goals of ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under five years of age by 2030.
The HSIS project, which is funded by the international vaccine alliance GAVI through the Ministry of Health, aims at achieving participatory health governance to ensure that barriers to equitable and quality immunisation are reduced, enabling women, children and communities to access quality immunisation services and healthcare and improved quality and uptake of immunisation services.
According to MEHN Board Chairperson, Carolyn Kassam, the project specifically seeks to contribute to strengthening the capacity of integrated health systems to deliver immunisation by resolving health constraints, increasing the level of equity in access to services and strengthening civil society engagement in the health sector.
“We want to improve access, quality and utilisation of Essential Health Package (EHP) services including immunisation, with a focus on populations systematically missed due to geographical, socio-economic and cultural barriers,” she said.
MHEN together with EPI under the Ministry of Health established and trained MCGs in hard-to-reach areas and urban slums in nine districts which had low immunisation coverage to accelerate vaccine uptake.
Apart from Chitipa, the project is being implemented in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mchinji, Dowa, Ntchisi, Kasungu, Mzimba South and Mzimba North
Largely, the MCGs were established in hard-to-reach areas characterised by geographical barriers, inaccessible road networks and bridges, isolated and scattered settlements, communities with religious beliefs prohibiting its members accessing immunisation services, among others.
Malawi has high infant and mortality rates owing to factors such as low education for women, lack of antenatal visits, poverty, households having large number of children and general lack of immunisation.
With increased immunisation coverage largely through the efforts of MCGs, infant mortality rate has however decreased to 32.6 deaths per 1000 live births down from 37.8 in 2020.
The number of women who die during pregnancy and child birth has also gone down to under 349 deaths per 100 000 live births down from 749 in 2000. The 2030 targets compel countries to reduce the ratio to 70.
With high level dedication to the cause, Naching’anda women have vowed to sustain their work and significantly help to further bring down morbidity and deaths in their community.
Nyalonje launches Labour Laws Review Consultative Workshop in Blantyre
By Isaac Jim
Blantyre, September 17, Mana: Minister of Labour Agnes Nyalonje on Monday launched the Labour Laws Reviews Consultative Workshop in Blantyre aimed at improving Malawi’s productivity.
Nyalonje said that the review of labour laws was due to gaps that have come in with time as the old policies are not helpful to the country.
“There is a need to attend to the policies that govern the labour sector. Reviewing the registration and legal framework for new registration will also help us clean up what is not helping the country.
“I cannot overemphasize the fact that the current labour laws have gaps, ambiguities and inadequacies that have necessitated a comprehensive review. Some of the major factors contributing to these gaps emanate from emerging issues like climate change, unemployment and underemployment,” she said.
She further said that her ministry was working hard to improve the work environment and that it is in its final stages of concluding a roadmap aimed at extending social protection.
“Ministry is working tirelessly to improve the work world. Firstly, to curb unemployment and accelerate creation of jobs in the labour market, my ministry is in the process of reviewing the Job Creation Strategy. This will complement other existing initiatives within Government including the Graduate Internship and Labour Export programs already in place.”
“My Ministry is also in the final stages of concluding a roadmap aimed at extending social protection through Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions (GA), of which, Malawi is a pathfinder country and it has placed Agriculture, Tourism and Ministry of Mining as the main vehicles for wealth and job creation in line with our development path, MW2063,” Nyalonje added.
Executive Director of Employees Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM), George Khaki expressed gratitude for the workshop as labour laws play a significant role in maintaining a good relationship between the employee and employer.
“Creating a fair and equitable working environment for all stakeholders starting from employees, employers, government and the country as a whole is our priority. Labour laws are also the catalysts for the national development that is in line with Malawi 2063 agenda,” he said.
The labour laws review workshop that started on 16th and will end on the 17th of September was held under the theme of “Strengthening of Labour Laws for Attainment of Decent Jobs and Sustainable Economic Development” and was organized by the European Union, Zatchito Program.
The meeting had stakeholders from different organizations such as Regional Labour Offices, Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU), Employees Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM) and representatives from various companies and other similar meetings have already been held in the northern and central region.
Phalombe Council addresses rising mental cases affecting the youth
By Linda Likomwa
Phalombe, September 17, Mana: Phalombe District Council with support from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is implementing an Outreach Adolescent Mental Health project to address mental health issues affecting youths in the district.
Speaking at Mpasa Primary School ground on Monday Alexander Sembo, Clinical Associate in Mental Health at Rev. John Chilembwe Hospital said each month they treat 28 new mental health cases apart from those that are referred to Zomba Mental Hospital.
"Most cases we are treating are young people between the ages of 17 to 27 and this is the result of excessive beer drinking, smoking Chamba (Indian hemp), and use of drugs," said Sembo.
He added that most youths in the district after finishing form four have nothing to do and they indulge themselves in bad behaviors that are leading them to mental health.
Sembo appealed to youths in the district to refrain from beer drinking and Chamba smoking, saying that mental health medicines are expensive which makes the hospital lose a lot of money to buy drugs to treat them.
Speaking earlier District Youth Officer Halson Bulangeti said young people are struggling to cope with different mental threats and they are not aware that mental problems can be referred to and treated at the hospital.
He thanked UNICEF for the support that would help them to mainstream issues of mental health and address psychosocial problems affecting youths in the district which is mostly influenced by trauma due to Cyclone Freddy, stress, financial problems and abuses.
Phalombe District Youth Network Chairperson, Gift Mawindo said the outreach would impact a lot of youths in the district since issues of mental health are reported at his office with some attempting to commit suicide.
The council is expected to reach 50,000 youths in three months, especially in traditional authorities that were hit hard by Tropical Cyclone Freddy.
