MANAonline
The Global Fund energizes PHIM
By Kondwani Magombo
Lilongwe, November 12, Mana: Until June 2023, the government of Malawi, through national Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) had been losing a lot of funds, sending samples of drug resistant cases of HIV, and TB, among others, abroad for analysis.
PHIM, which has its headquarters in the capital, Lilongwe, is a directorate within the Ministry of Health and it deals with disease surveillance and diagnostics, and quality management through refresher courses and mentorship to ensure quality results in district hospitals.
Other than losing funds, the country had also been wasting time as PHIM awaited the results of the samples sent abroad before making decisions.
But PHIM, today, no longer relies on foreign institutions to analyze any samples as the Institute can now do the task on its own, thanks to Global Fund.
“The Global Fund has been a good partner in laboratory services in Malawi: Previously, we used to send these samples either to South Africa, Uganda or Kenya and it could take longer than expected,” explains PHIM Deputy Director for National Public Health Laboratory, Joseph Bitilinyu Bango.
“But now, with the support from the Global Fund, we are able to carry out the tests on our own since June 2023, and it only takes 2 weeks before the results are out,” he adds.
According to Bangoh, the Global Fund’s support in drug-resistant sample testing is a relief to both the institution and clients who could, previously, wait for half a year to know what was wrong in their bodies.
As a directorate dealing with specialized tests, PHIM has the following departments: TB Reference Laboratory; HIV Reference Laboratory; Parasitology and Vector Disease Reference Laboratory; Micro-biology National Genomic Sequencing Laboratory; as well as Genomic Biochemistry, Hematology and Nutrition.
All these departments benefit from Global Fund’s support either through equipment and supplies, or capacity building through training of staff.
In HIV Reference Laboratory, for instance, Global Fund has been supporting department with reagents and supplies, and the Fund has also been supporting rapid testing across Malawi, according to Chifundo Banda, Chief Laboratory Scientist and Head of the National HIV Reference Laboratory, where the Genomics Reference Laboratory is also housed.
The department oversees about 6,000 service providers (public and private hospitals) across Malawi, ensuring provision of quality services regarding HIV testing.
The department also conducts verification of test kits; and it also conducts confirmatory testing when the service providers are not able to determine results after a test.
The advanced equipment which Global Fund supported PHIM within June 2023 remains a long stride in the HIV Reference Laboratory department – especially in determining drug resistant samples.
“Keeping patients waiting for 6 months before they knew what was happening in their bodies was very retrogressive,” explains Banda. “Now we are able to test drug resistant HIV and get the results in two weeks: This is progress.”
Banda adds that with Global Fund’s support towards her department, Malawi is on the right path towards achieving the 95:95:95 targets so that the country does not have any new infections by 2030, among others.
Global Fund has also been instrumental in supporting malaria programs through the National Parasitology Reference Laboratory department, whose role is to detect all kinds of parasites, and oversee other peripheral labs across the country.
According to Chief Laboratory Scientist and Head of the department, Shenton Kacheche, Global Fund has supported capacity building by training staff in malaria diagnosis.
He acknowledges that with the Global Fund’s capacity building support, the department’s performance has improved tremendously.
“The refresher courses are very important, and they have improved the performance of our staff and that of our peripheral health facilities,” explains Kacheche.
He adds: “Previously, this lab’s performance was very low – below 50 percent. But after the trainings, past rounds of KUHES (Kamuzu University of Health Science) test, we scored 100 percent.”
More gains made through Global Fund’s support at PHIM are shared by Dorothy Moyo Kalata, Chief Laboratory Scientist and Manager for TB Reference Laboratory.
The department oversees TB diagnostic network across Malawi, doing TB culture, and conducting confirmatory tests, among other tasks.
The Global Fund has supported the department with procurement of equipment for testing, and establishment of culture labs in the south and in the north, given the overwhelming work that the department has.
“So, with the Global Fund’s support, we have set up culture lab at Zomba Central Hospital in the south, and another one at Mzuzu Central Hospital in the north,” Kalata explains.
Over the years since Malawi introduced molecular testing of TB using GeneXpert machine, the Global Fund has assisted the department with the procurement of the equipment and according to, Kalata, there are 210 GeneXpert machines across the country.
The Global Fund has also helped the TB Reference Laboratory in capacity building and testing coverage for TB as the department boasts 418 testing sites across Malawi, with some of these sites located in very remote areas.
With the Global Fund’s support, the TB Reference Laboratory also assembles Mobile Diagnostic Units (MDU) for TB in the form of vans equipped with GeneXpert and x-ray machines each, and they are deployed to the country’s border posts to test incoming and outgoing travelers for TB.
Chakwera urged Malawians on the importance of voter registration
By Happy Milanzie
Lilongwe November 13, Mana: President of the Republic of Malawi Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has urged the people of Waliranji in Mchinji District to go in large numbers to register with Malawi Electrical Commission (MEC) in preparation for 2025 tripartite elections.
Chakwera is conducting a whistle-stop tour to inspect development projects in Mchinji, starting from Waliranji and continuing to seven other locations in the district.
Chakwera made the remarks at Waliranji Trading Centre that people must go and register with Malawi Electrical Commission and not wait for the closing day that was indicated by MEC.
"2025 tripartite elections are just around the corner so you should not wait for others to make the decisions on behalf of your partial decision, therefore you need to rush for the registration," he said.
Chakwera further stated that for development to progress in the country, registration serves as the foundation, as it is essential for the voting process in the upcoming 2025 tripartite elections.
"Your vote played pivot role for the development that the government has already portrayed to the country so this is the right time for the people of Waliranji to make a decision through the vote," he added.
Chakwera is expected to visit about eight places in Mchinji to address the district on the importance of voter registration and including the actual voting.
Representative of Traditional Mavyele Chief Zanga appealed to President Chakwera to not stop helping the farmers with agricultural inputs including offering good prices for all crops.
In addition, the chief said despite that government provided the affordable inputs, people around Mavyele are suffering from hunger and obtaining loans from the government.
Zomba Central Hospital gets K2 billion CT-Scan Machine
By Leonard Masauli and Patricia Kapulula
Zomba, November 12, Mana: Zomba Central Hospital, located in the city of Zomba, has an extended catchment area comprising several district hospitals in Southern region OF Malawi.
For a long time, the country’s oldest referral hospital was being overwhelmed with clients in need of Computed Tomography (CT) scan services because most of the district hospitals do not have functioning machines hence refer their patients to Zomba Central Hospital.
While some patients seek such services from private hospitals where they paid huge sums of money, others could just resign to fate, as they could not afford the bills in private facilities, transport and upkeep to travel to Blantyre.
However, with the intervention of the Global Fund to procure through Government of Malawi a K2 billion CT scan, the pharma-grade incinerator, and the Infectious Disease Unit (IDU) Machine, patients have seen a tremendous change as far as healthcare provision is concerned.
During the commissioning ceremony at Zomba Central Hospital in July this year, the Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda said the Ministry is determined to fight against diseases.
She said to achieve this enormous objective, it became imperative that Ministry of Health put in place the necessary infrastructure and equipment including the recruitment of health care workers to carry out this enormous task effectively.
“I feel privileged and honoured to inaugurate the CT scanning facility, the Medical Incineration Services Facility and the Infectious Disease Unit (IDU) at the Zomba Central Hospital (ZCH).
“The CT scan worth over K2 billion and this Pharma-grade incinerator installed at Kasungu District Hospital worth K453million, are courtesy of the support from the Global Fund,” Chiponda added.
She said the funds for these state-of-the-art machines were awarded to Malawi as part of the Covid-19 response mechanism grant to strengthen the health systems and make the health infrastructure robust and resilient to future pandemics.
“We are thrilled that the Eastern region community, where Zomba is, will now have enhanced access to care close to home. This state-of-the-art technology is a game-changer, eliminating the need for Eastern region residents to travel to other centres for CT scanning.
“The CT scanner is not just a machine; it is a promise of prompt and accurate diagnoses and will aid in timely treatments elevating the overall standard of care, it will reduce travel burdens for patients, and an enhanced capability for our healthcare professionals to provide the best care possible.
She said this marks a beacon of hope for those who may find themselves in need, reinforcing the idea that no matter where the people are, healthcare excellence should be within their reach.
A CT scan is a medical imaging test that uses X-rays to create cross-sectional images of the body. The patient lies on a table that slides into the CT scanner.
A narrow X-ray beam rotates around the patient’s body to detect health conditions and injuries like tumors, bone fractures and heart diseases.
Apart from Zomba Central Hospital, Global Fund has also donated Digital X-ray Machine to improve health care provision at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH).
The hospital serves up to 230 patients per day and the inside body imaging device has improved the hospital’s service delivery by having consistent services since its commissioning in June this year.
QECH Chief Radiographer and Head of Radiography, George Mubisa, hailed the commissioning of the machine saying it came at the right time when the hospital was overwhelmed with patients from district hospitals.
“This is state-of-the-art technology which produces high quality images. It has the capability of Artificial Intelligence which can analyze the chest X-ray and interpret results of the analysis and give scores in relation to the probability of a patient having tuberculosis (TB),” Mubisa said.
Besides pointing out the suggestive TB, technology also gives other scores of long pathologies including cancer and pneumonia.
Mubisa said this makes it easier for doctors to determine if the patient should go for further examination to reduce the waiting period for the patient to commence treatment.
Nurse in charge of the TB ward at QECH, Ruth Mbweza, said the digital X-ray has made it easier to discuss doctor-patient issues especially for multi-drug-resistant patients.
She said before the purchasing of the digital X-ray, it was difficult for them to send the results texts but now results come on time thereby necessitating the putting of the patient on treatment.
“Some issues are detected early and we discuss how to help the patient. It now takes 20 to 30 minutes to have the results,” she said.
The QECH, is also expected to have a modern Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and a CT scanner, which will help patients to access the service within reach.
Currently, patients requiring such services, are referred to Lyons at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe.
“We are only given a slot of seven patients per two weeks, yet we have more patients requiring such services.
“Demand is significantly high and we are not able to provide fullest potential services without the CT and MRI scanner. So their installation will really change service delivery for the better,” he said.
MANEPO wraps Up El Niño relief with maize distribution in M’deka
By Vida Msiyo
Blantyre, Nov 13, Mana: Malawi Network of Older Person’s Organizations (MANEPO) in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) on Tuesday completed a distribution of 50 kgs maize bags to residents affected by El Niño at Yesya Village in M’deka under T/A Chigalu.
The relief programme which began in September targeted 17,000 families, first providing each family with MK70,000 and then maize and on Tuesday, MANEPO wrapped up the project, reaching out to the remaining 106 families.
MANEPO’s Acting Humanitarian Manager, Maria Masiye said the food assistance aims at mitigating hunger among the affected households.
“We started in September and today we’re concluding the distribution, this food is crucial for families affected by El Niño, which disrupted their crop production, leaving them without sufficient food,” she said.
Masiye, however, advised beneficiaries particularly the elderly to remain vigilant about safety due to potential threats from others within the community.
Yesaya Village Civil Protection Committee Secretary, Wyson Namukoloma commended MANEPO and partners for the timely intervention, noting that the area faced severe food shortages.
“People here have been relying on mangoes as their primary source of food. So, together with MANEPO’s support we ensured that the distribution process was transparent and fair,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Susana John expressed gratitude, confessing that she initially had doubts about the aid.
“When they registered us, I thought it was just another list with no action but now, I have maize to sustain my family and I’m truly thankful,” John said.
The programme which will continue until February 2025 has also provided similar relief to families in traditional authorities Kuntaja and Lundu.
Parliament impressed with development projects in Ntcheu
By Maston Kaiya
Ntcheu, November 13, Mana: The Parliamentary Committee on Local Authorities and Rural Development has commended the implementation of Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD), District Development Fund (DDF) and Constituency Development Fund projects in Ntcheu district.
Chairperson of the committee Horace Chipuwa made the remarks on Wednesday during the committee's visit to GESD, DDF and CDF projects in the district.
"We came to appreciate various development projects in the district, from what we have seen at Gomani Chikuse Community Day Secondary School and Mdeka bridge, things are in order, we have appreciated the construction works at these sites," said Chipuwa.
He lauded the use of capable contractors who are able to finish quality work within a specified period as opposed to local artisans who usually have financial challenges.
The Director of Planning and Development (DPD) for Ntcheu District Council, Obed Mwalughali said the district adopted the use of big contractors with working capital without compromising the quality of work.
"We use contractors with financial capacity who are able to finish projects on time and without compromising quality," said Mwalughali.
The total cost of the 2024/25 GESD, DDF and CDF projects in the district is over MK 1.8 billion.
Mzimba communities appeal for subsidized phones
By Mercy Botha
Mzimba, Novermber 13, Mana: People in Mzimba have asked the government to consider subsidizing the cost of mobile phones so that they can adopt the digital financial services the government is promoting in the country.
The Reserve Bank of Malawi and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs have embarked on an awareness campaign across the country whereby they are wooing communities to adopt the digital financial services.
In an interview on the sidelines of one of such awareness meetings in Mzimba on Tuesday, Florence Phiri from Kanjuchi Village Traditional Authority Mabulabo, in Mzimba, said she is willing to adopt the initiative but does not have access to a mobile phone.
“We welcome the digital financial services initiative due to the benefits they provide such as keeping money secure and convenience of paying bills in the comfort of your home, but it’s not all of us who have phones because phones are too expensive for us’’, she said
“We urge the government to provide subsidized phones for us in rural communities so that we also benefit from this program,” said Phiri.
Monica Luhana of Khosolo also said introducing cheap phones will go a long way in facilitating the adaptation of digital financial services as she said phones are the thing in modern years.
Speaking during one of the Digital Financial Services campaign meetings in Khosolo, Patrick Chimowa expressed the same concern of lack of access to mobile phones as one barrier to adopting digital financial services.
“We are looking forward to cheap phones also known as ‘Mose walero’ if possible, in order to adopt to digital financial services. We believe that subsidized phones will enable us to manage our finances efficiently, receive payments, and access vital services that may come along with the initiative,” said Chimowa.
Team leader for Digital financial services in Mzimba, Shazel Lambat, assured the community members that their concerns would be forwarded to the relevant authorities.
“We have heard the people’s concerns and will forward them to the government as it is committed to promoting financial inclusion and economic empowerment,” said Lambat.
LISAP unveils MK51 million model CBCC in Nkhata Bay
By Janet Masamba
Nkhata Bay, November 13, Mana: Livingstonia Synod AIDS Program (LISAP) on Tuesday commissioned a MK51 million model Community Based Child Care centre (CBCC) to communities at Makhumbo in the area of Traditional Authority Zilakoma in Nkhata-Bay aimed at providing a conducive environment for learning.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Nkhata Bay Director of Health and Social Services Topcy Mdolo who was also the guest of honor applauded LISAP for setting the good pace by constructing a durable infrastructure which will provide good service in a long term.
He said the project is imperative in shaping the development of a child to be a complete future adult who can contribute to the country's development.
"This is a very important project as it is targeting early childhood development.
"Mental and physical development, relationship building with fellow children; all these will be happening here. As they grow, they become sharp compared to those who haven't gone through such structures", he said.
He therefore urged community members to take ownership of the CBCC by making sure that learning and teaching resources are well taken care of, so that the project serves generations.
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for LISAP, Gilbert Phiri revealed that the model CBCC has been established to address the problem of learning as previously the area has been using temporary structures.
He asked community members to put in place measures that will enable the structure's sustainability.
"We expect them to come up with clear ownership plan where they should give each other duty rosters. We also expect them to ensure that there is good security here" said Phiri.
On the other hand, Traditional Authority Zilakoma promised to ensure that the structures will be well taken care of by his community members, saying committees on the same had already been formed.
Ted Tadeyo Chauluka, Country Director for Help a Child Malawi, key funder of the project, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to continue supporting the government in the early childhood development.
Currently, there are 443 Community Based Child Care centres in Nkhata Bay.
CASM host BUCC for Blantyre students
By Agatha Kadzinje
Blantyre, November 13, Mana: Christos Ambassadors Students Ministry (CASM) has organized a Blantyre Universities and Colleges Conference (BUCC) on Friday, November 15, 2024 at Malawi College of Accountancy (Blantyre Campus).
Pastor Kennie Mulinde, Founder of CASM, told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Wednesday that the conference aims at providing both spiritual and academic guidance to university students.
“Most university students lack direction in their spiritual and academic lives. Many students are unsure how to manage their studies effectively. They often get involved in activities that distract them from their academic goals.
“At this conference, we will provide practical techniques to help the students excel in their studies,” he said.
Mulinde who will also be the guest speaker at BUCC, added that the conference aims at equipping the youth with knowledge to help shape their future.
“When you’re in university, it’s easy to think that youthfulness last forever. But the reality is that we all grow older each year, so it’s important to shape our future now to avoid problems later. Even in our youth, we must prepare for the future because the more we know God, the more we understand our lives,” he said.
Mulinde, however, expressed hope that after the conference, every student will feel a renewed purpose to live for and serve God.
“The activities at the conference will help attendees realize that they are here for a God-given purpose, which they should actively pursue,” he said.
Mulinde also shared CASM’s long-term goal to reach university students not only in Blantyre but across the country.
CASM’s Head of Administration, Chawezi Gondwe told Mana in a separate interview that the conference will include interactive programmes, worship experiences, music and arts performances and teachings from the Bible.
Gondwe added that many university students think that serving the Lord might hinder their success in college.
“This mindset often discourages the youth from engaging in church activities on campus. BUCC will help change this perception by showing students how they can balance their academic and spiritual lives. Success in academics can be achieved when God is involved,” he said.
He added that BUCC is the beginning of what will become an annual event for university students and CASM’s conferences were mainly targeted at secondary schools.
Gondwe shared CASM dream to expand its campus ministries to both public and private universities across Malawi and eventually, internationally to spread the gospel among students.
He, therefore, encouraged all university students to attend the conference, describing it as a life-changing experience.
The conference will be held from 01:00 p.m to 04:30 p.m. Christos Ambassadors Students Ministry (CASM) is an interdenominational, campus-based ministry and a branch of Christos Ambassadors Ministries International, founded on February 3, 2023.
Partners hailed for 'mindset change' interventions among SCTP beneficiaries
By: Steve Chirombo
Dedza, November 13, Mana: Social Welfare Officer for Dedza District Council, Emmanuel Khumba, on Tuesday expressed gratitude to various partners, microfinance institutions and banks for implementing mindset change interventions among Social Cash Transfer Program (SCTP) beneficiaries in the district.
Khumba described the partners as game changers for a successful implementation of the program saying most beneficiaries have ventured into businesses and are able to use the funds for the intended purposes.
He made the remarks during a tour to some beneficiary households in Group Village Head Kantema under Senior Chief Kamenyagwaza in the district.
He cited low literacy levels among most beneficiaries as a major challenge. He however said the program was registering major successes due to mindset change interventions as more beneficiaries are now able to set up businesses and are able to calculate profits, how to grow crops, as well as how to rear different animals on a small scale.
"With such initiatives, we have seen great improvements in a number of beneficiaries where such partners are operating from," he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Florida Chaola, said since she enrolled into the program, her life has changed for the better.
"I now have some pigs and I am able to provide for my household. We really struggled with hunger and poverty before we joined the program. But the situation is better now," she said.
Another beneficiary, Thamson Guya, said he used to sleep in a grass thatched house before he joined the program.
According to Guya, proceeds from the sale of pigs out of the first payment he got from the program, went towards buying iron sheets for his house.
"I am now a happy man together with my entire household. We also invested some money into our farming activities which have seen us having enough food, providing for our children's education as well as meeting our needs," he said.
Mefereniya Manyozo, another beneficiary of the program, said her story is different now as she owns goats which she believes will multiply with time.
"Hunger, lack of clothes as well as food were our major problems. But we can now breathe because we have two goats and the money we get from the program is also covering some gaps," she said.
While thanking government and other partners for the support, Manyozo went on to say that it is her dream to see her house improved.
There are 19,600 SCTP beneficiaries in Dedza District.
The program which targets 10 percent of the country’s ultra-poor population is funded by the World Bank and the Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
BT retargets 11,909 in SCTP
By Memory Chatonda
Blantyre, November 13, Mana: Blantyre District Council is set to enroll at least 11,909 ultra-poor households into the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) in the retargeting exercise, currently underway in the district.
Speaking during the extraordinary full council meeting in Blantyre on Wednesday, Principal Social Welfare Officer in the Ministry of Gender, Given Mukisi said the exercise follows the 2019 study on the impact of the Malawi SCTP on lifecycle vulnerabilities, which revealed that the current targeting approach indirectly reaches many individuals with lifecycle vulnerabilities.
Mukisi said it was thought necessary by the Ministry of Gender, with support from United Nations Children Fund to explore a new, innovative targeting approach to cover the lifecycle vulnerabilities.
“During the retargeting exercise, the selection criteria for the households would include those headed by a child, those with at least one member with a chronic illness, a household with a member with a disability, those with one child aged two or below and those with at least one member aged 65 and above,” she said.
Mukisi said overall, Blantyre will have 11,909 beneficiaries, a slight increase from the current number of beneficiaries which is at 7,869.
She, therefore, underscored the significance of the SCTP which aims at reducing poverty, malnutrition and improve school enrollment.
In his remarks, District Commissioner for Blantyre, Alex Mdooko welcomed the retargeting exercise, observing that it helps to address inclusion and exclusion errors.
Blantyre District Council Chairperson, Elson Dumuka urged local leaders to work in unity to ensure that various social protection programmes, like the SCTP being implemented by the council, benefit the intended households at the grassroots level.
The SCTP targets 10 percent of ultra-poor households which are sourced from the Unified Beneficiary Registry database.
