By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, July 11, Mana: Malawi Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance has called upon faith-based and traditional leaders to champion access to Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and safe abortions.

Speaking during an interface meeting with Salima-based traditional and faith-based leaders on promotion of access to safe abortion on Wednesday, Youth Programme Coordinator at Malawi Health Alliance, Gertrude Kapyepye said unsafe abortions continue to affect girls and women.

She said the interface meeting was aimed at soliciting different perspectives on issues to do with sexual reproductive rights.

"Faith-based leaders have a stand when it comes to access to safe abortions, the same applies to faith-based leaders, therefore today we are shedding light that safe abortions are not only about terminating an unborn baby, it also has to do with conditions that are critical to the life of a mother," Kapyepye said.

She said creating a conducive environment where views are shared will protect adolescents and young women in the country adding there was a need to raise awareness on the tenets underlined in the abortion rights bill.

A representative from Pastor's Fraternal Salima Chapter, Geoffrey Mputa said the faith-based community was keen to understand the legal aspects of sexual reproductive rights, therefore engagements to solicit contrary views are always welcome.

"We are always seen as a grouping that does not understand sexual reproductive rights, however interfacing and hearing legal aspects from experts provides a holistic understanding of the issues," he said.

Traditional Authority (TA) Maganga said the promotion of safe abortions was important because women and adolescents continue to lose lives due to unsafe abortions.

"We have learnt that women and girls seeking to access abortion in the country must first present themselves before a doctor and expressly make a request for abortion services based on existing conditions. Therefore, it is about the safety of women and girls," she said.

She promised to promote dialogue on access to sexual reproductive health in her community so that girls' and women's lives can be saved.

According to the Centre for Reproductive Rights, it is estimated that six to eighteen percent of maternal deaths in the country was a result from unsafe abortion complications.

The interface meeting was organized under a project called Transforming Lives, through a campaign dubbed "My Choice Our Choice," with support from Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, which focuses on the promotion of access to safe abortions among adolescents and young women.

By Manasse Nyirenda

Rumphi, July 11, Mana: Rumphi district council on Wednesday launched the construction of two health facilities and a school block, all worth K467 million which will be funded through Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project.

The council launched construction of K151 million outpatient (OPD) health facility at Kamphenda, a K99 million school block at Chirambo Primary School and a maternity wing worth K217 million at Mphompha Health Centre.

Chairperson for Rumphi District Council, Harry Munyenyembe said the projects will improve provision of healthcare and education services within the targeted areas.

Director of Health and Social Services (DHSS) for Rumphi district council, Dr. Arnold Jumbe said people will access health care services at their doorsteps once the health related facilities are completed and operational.

He added, the intervention will also ease pressure on Rumphi District Hospital and patients’ guardians will also be glad to care for their relations closer to their homes.

“About 561 expectant mothers at Mphompha seek maternity services at the district hospital annually and this comes with a lot of pressure on the main facility in the district,” said Jumbe.

Member of Parliament for Rumphi West, Yona Mkandawire urged contractors who will work on the projects against compromising on quality but deliver value for money structures.

Group Village Head Kaskembe said the OPD at Kamphenda will significantly cut the distance which people cover to access health care services at Mwazisi Health Centre which is over 12 kilometers away.

Rumphi district council was one of the best performing local authorities in Local Authority Performance Assessment (LAPA) in 2023 and is expected to receive at least K332 million from GESD for its performance. 

GESD is a Malawi Government performance based grant which is funded by the World Bank.

By Tabbu Kitta Kauye

Lilongwe, July 10, mana:  President Lazarus Chakwera has called on members of the Southern Confederation of Agriculture Union (SACAU) to step up and protect farmers in the region to ensure that they are resilient from shocks associated with climate change.

The president made the call, during the opening of a two-day Annual general conference of SACAU in Lilongwe.

 President Chakwera, reiterated the importance of Agriculture in the country's economy, saying it is not only a source of livelihood for majority of Malawians but also the leading engine for forex

  "We are hosting this conference as an expression of our desire to bring all Agriculture interests and partnerships in the world to bear on our pursuit of prosperity of our farmers” said Chakwera

“Farmers are the heart of this sector, therefore their resilience and productivity are crucial for our nations" prosperity, “said the President.

President Chakwera said Malawi is committed to work with SACAU in advancing the common goal of building a more resilient agriculture sector that benefits all members.

Delivering his keynote speech, Chief Executive Officer for SACAU Ishmael Sunga, highlighted the need for members to revitalize the agricultural sector by among other things, harnessing the digital technology, robust investment in the agriculture sector.

According to Sunga, member states can achieve high agricultural prosperity and productivity if they collectively agree to invest in the youth agri-entrepreneurship.

The Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) is a regional farmer's organisation representing the common interests of organized agriculture in the Southern African Development

Community countries.

It currently has 19 member organizations, from 12 countries in Southern Africa.

By Patience Kapinda

Lilongwe, July 10, MANA: Forum for African Women Educationalists Malawi (FAWEMA) has launched an online Gender Responsive Pedagogy (GRP) platform, aimed at promoting gender equality in education.

The new online platform is a significant milestone in FAWEMA's efforts to address gender disparities in education.

By providing gender-responsive teaching methods and materials, the platform will help create a more inclusive learning environment for both girls and boys.

Speaking at a review meeting for the GRP project in Mponela on Wednesday, Dr. Margaret Madimbo, Chairperson of the FAWEMA Board, emphasized the importance of gender-responsive teaching methods.

"We work with teachers and the community to sensitize everyone to be involved. The review meeting is to bring stake-holders together and look at the work they have been doing, and we're also launching an online GRP2," she said.

The online platform will reach a wider audience, including teachers in distant locations. "We have trained lecturers in Teacher Training Colleges (TTC), and we are working with six key districts. We've also trained teachers who, in turn, train others, like School's Parent Teacher Associations and school management committees," Dr. Madimbo added.

Executive Director of FAWEMA, Wesley Chabwera, highlighted the background of the GRP project. "Research in the early 90s showed that girls were lagging behind due to gender-biased language, teaching materials, and classroom management. We developed GRP2 to address these issues and build capacity for teachers to provide equal opportunities for both girls and boys," he explained.

Noria Mchingula, Principal Officer and Director of E-learning at the Ministry of Education, hailed the project for improving education.

FAWEMA's implementation of GRP has helped us learn skills on gender-responsive pedagogy. We're happy to see the digitalization of this tool, which aligns with our goal of making Malawi's education system more resilient," she said.

Jonathan Koboni, Head teacher of Kayoyo Community Secondary School Ntchisi, testified to the impact of GRP2. "The trainers have reached a lot of people in secondary and primary schools, and we have managed to reach out to community leaders, PTA members, and mother groups."

He said that teachers are giving positive feedback from their interaction with students.

The project, funded by the Mastercard Foundation, aims to support marginalized learners and provide bridging opportunities for tertiary education.

FAWEMA has trained over 1,500 teachers and lecturers in GRP, and the online platform is expected to increase access and reach even more educators.

By Sellah Singini

Lilongwe, July 10, Mana: National AIDS Commission (NAC) and Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) has advised Malawians particularly people living with HIV not to be deceived by false and misleading information about HIV and AIDS cure trending on social media.

Speaking on Wednesday during a press briefing the two organization jointly organized, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for NAC Dr. Beatrice Matanje said currently, HIV has no cure and the current treatment was taking of Anti-Retroviral Drugs (ARVs).

She said recent joint investigations by NAC and PMRA, in collaboration with Malawi Police Service (MPS) have uncovered disturbing trend where some individuals are tampering with labels of unknown medicines which they later advertise as “Gammora HIV Cure” falsely claimed to be permanent cure for HIV and AIDS.

“These fake products are then sold to people living with HIV at exorbitant prices ranging from K 90,000 to K 260,000 per purported dose,

Such deceitful adverts, if shared and believed have the potential to foster an environment that endangers the lives of many people living with HIV,” Matanje said.

The CEO advised People Living with HIV to remain vigilant and always consult a qualified healthcare professional who could assess their condition, prescribe appropriate medication, and provide guidance on its safe use.

“Taking medication without a prescription can pose several health risks including harmful side effects or ineffective treatment due to incorrect dosage or wrong medication, potentially harmful drug interactions,” she added.

Director General of PMRA, Mphatso Kawaye said NAC and PMRA, in liaison with other regulatory bodies such as Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) and Police would pursue all cases of false, inaccurate and misleading information on HIV and AIDS and bring all perpetrators to book.

“Anyone with information regarding illegal sale or distribution of falsified medicines is encouraged to report to the two institutions or Police for action. The Public is implored to ensure that they are not lured in any way by the sensationalized adverts on HIV and AIDS issues,” he advised.

NAC and PMRA has warned the public that it is an offence under Section 25 of the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Management) Act, to proclaim or publish misleading, false or inaccurate information concerning HIV and AIDS.

It is an offence under Section 98 of the PMRA Act, 2019 to manufacture, import, assemble, dispense, sale any medicinal product or medical device which is falsified and substandard.

By Priscilla Phiri and Hastings Yobe

Lilongwe, July 10, Mana: Imagine the sound of screeching tires, crunch of metal, and shattering glasses still echoing in your mind long after a road accident.

Imagine reliving the same horrific moment every time you get behind the wheel, or even just hearing the sound of a car driving by.

This is the reality of many road users in the country, behind closed doors, a hidden battle rages.

This battle is not fought with swords or guns but with memories that refuse to fade.

Road traffic accidents, a common occurrence in the country’s roads, leave scars that run deeper than a broken bone.

For those who survive the twisted metal and shattered glass, a different kind of trauma awaits, one that lingers long after the sirens fade.

Malawi News Agency (Mana) explores the often-hidden aftermaths of road accidents, the struggles of living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and the bravery of those who are fighting to reclaim their lives as they find ways to heal.

 Alice Banda, 27, is a resident in the City of Lilongwe and a survivor of a devastating road accident which took place within the town of Lilongwe in 2021 and this is her life.

The physical scars healed, but the emotional ones still remain raw and unrelenting.

“I am always afraid to travel long distances because every time I travel by car, I get flashbacks of a car accident that I was involved in two years ago, I am even afraid to drive because I fear that I may end up in an accident,” she revealed.

Although Alice has on several occasions shared her experiences with her loved ones, she still feels alone and helpless as those that she trusts the most do not realise the damage that the accident she was once involved in made.

“It is depressing because I do not know what to do to get my life back. The hardest part is that those that are around me take it lightly and they do not understand the severity of the psychological trauma that the accident left me with,” she lamented.

Alice is not alone and thousands like her in the country grapple with PTSD with lives altered by the merciless roads. 

A Mzuzu City resident, Madalitso Banda, 23 fights the same battle silently.

“I did not know that this was a psychological condition, but ever since I was hit by a motorcycle, my life has never been the same, I panic every time I cross the road and I do not like walking around town to hang out with friends because I cannot stop myself from recalling the accident.

The condition has affected my social life as I prefer staying home after school,” he said.

PTSD is characterised by failure to recover after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.

The condition may last months or years, with triggers that can bring back memories of the trauma accompanied by intense emotional and physical reactions.

 According to research, a staggering 954 people were estimated to have been affected by road trauma in Ntcheu district alone in 2018, with 173 lives lost.

Yet, shockingly, official records vastly underreport these numbers, with Police data capturing only 11 percent of cases and hospital records accounting for a mere 14 percent.

This means that hundreds of survivors, like Alice and Madalitso, are silently struggling with the emotional scars of their ordeal, including the debilitating symptoms of PTSD.

According to Psychologist at Harmony Wellness Solutions, Henry Mwale, PTSD affects a person’s thinking, feelings and behaviour making it difficult for patients to fully function in their day to day lives.

“The most common symptoms that most road traffic accident victims come with are flashbacks, they may think that they are reliving the whole trauma or have intrusive thoughts like they are going through the whole accident again,

Some may have troubling dreams and find it difficult sleeping others may develop avoidance of the things that remind them of the trauma for example they may avoid the places that the accident happened or the activities that remind them of the accident like driving or conversations that may remind them of such incidents.

He emphasised that victims develop PTSD symptoms at different time frames after the accident.

 “It is important to note that people develop PTSD symptoms at different time periods, some may develop the symptoms immediately after the traffic accident, while others may do so three months after the accident,

So it is important to come for assessment so that we see how they are coping and start the interventions once diagnosis has been done because such patients feel like they are not safe all because they are failing to process what happened hence therapy is important as it helps to restructure their thoughts and beliefs,” Mwale said.

He advises victims of road traffic accidents with PTSD condition to be open and talk about their experiences because distressful experiences open a door to addictions as victims try to find coping mechanism that are harmful to their wellbeing.

Psychologist encourages health workers to refer road traffic accident victims to therapy for their mental wellness.

“Do not overlook PTSD, because the condition is real and no one is immune to it, people need to know that their reactions are normal to abnormal events, so whenever they go through traumatic situations they should go for check up to see if they have PTSD and get helped professionally,” Mwale firmed.

Mental Health expert, Georgina Kanyanda said there was need for more awareness from the medical profession to keep Malawians informed on issues to do with disorders for them to be properly addressed.

In a bid to curb road accidents in the country, government together with stakeholders are taking action in creating awareness on the relevance of road safety in saving lives and property.

According to Senior Road and Transport Officer for South Directorate of Road Traffic on Safety Services (DRTSS), Edwin Chikamba, the topic of road accidents should be taken seriously.

“It is a high time that people start realising the graveness of the situation and take action, road safety should be one of the most talked about topics amongst people to raise awareness.

It is sad to note that people think adhering to road safety information is only for those working for road traffic and drivers on the contrary, every person regardless of their status in society is a road user and should take full responsibility when using the road,” he said.

All in all, no one ought to live their lives in despair and fear of what may happen to them on the road.

It is high time Malawians took road safety seriously bearing in mind that their safety is the safety of other road users.

The silent struggle against PTSD and haunting memories underscores the true cost of road trauma.

As the country seek ways to heal and reclaim lives, Malawians have a responsibility to drive with caution and empathy making the country’s roads safer for everyone to arrive alive.