By Ruth Kumwenda

Blantyre, May 4, Mana: Cancer Survivors Quest (CSQ) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting cancer patients on top of raising awareness on various types of cancer affecting Malawians from low-income backgrounds.

The organization which is currently supporting five patients with transport money, held an online auction on April 30, 2025, selling cancer awareness keyrings with varying colors representing different kinds of cancer where it managed to raise K80, 000 against their target of K100, 000.

CSQ Executive, Director Chikhulupiliro Ng'ombe, told Malawi News Agency (MANA) that the organization came up to launch the cancer awareness keyrings designed in different colours to enhance support and awareness about different kinds of cancer.

“The cancer awareness keyrings are designed with different colour ribbons representing specific cancer type. Gold for childhood cancer, Light blue for prostate cancer, Dark blue for colon cancer, White for lung cancer while Emerald green is for liver cancer,” he added.

He expressed gratitude to those who participated in the auction and those who made donations, saying CSQ remains optimistic to meet objectives as keyring sales continue throughout.

Ng’ombe said fighting cancer is not an individual battle but a collective effort, adding, “Cancer is a very difficult condition to go through, and doing it alone is impossible. At CSQ, we believe in Togetherness in fighting cancer,”.

He further appealed to the public to continue supporting the cause either by purchasing the keyrings or making direct donations

Health expert, George Jobe, who is also Executive Director for Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN), commended the initiative, saying the support will ease the burden faced by cancer patients who need treatments but lack transportation to and from the hospital.

“This initiative by Cancer Survivor Quest is recommendable because many cancer patients in Malawi are struggling financially, some patients fail to access treatment simply because they cannot afford transport or basic needs,” he added.

He called on well-wishers to support CSQ to reach out to more people who are battling cancer.

By Aliko Munde and Ireen Mseteka

Mzuzu, May 4, Mana: Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Digitalization, Baldwin Chiyamwaka, said that the government recognizes that freedom of the press is not a luxury but a necessity.

Chiyamwaka was speaking on Saturday night during MISA Malawi World Press Freedom Day Gala Dinner which was held under the theme; “Media for a well-informed electorate” in Mzuzu

Chiyamwaka said that the government understands that there cannot be sustainable development and meaningful and credible democratic elections without a media environment that is free and independent.

“The backbone of our democracy relies on citizens’ effective participation in all democratic processes, hence Malawians must be well-informed.

Without accurate, balanced and accessible information, citizens cannot make informed choices and therefore cannot effectively participate in elections,” said Chiyamwaka.

He therefore said that journalists are not just mere messengers but pillars of good governance, which includes accountability, transparency and enhancement of national cohesion.

Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Malawi, Amy Diaz, said that the media in the country have a role in ensuring that Malawians have accurate information on the forthcoming General Elections.

"You need to remain professional so that political parties and the electorate depend on you for fair and balanced information.

In this era of social media, Malawians depend on you to provide accurate information," Diaz said.

Chairperson for MISA Malawi, Golden Watonga said that despite challenges, journalists must uphold the true creed of the profession. Saying that media should always remain impartial and safeguard the interests of the public.

“Let us reject any attempts to use us as instruments for any politician or political party.  The media must rise above the fray and prove that it can be different, effective, reliable and fit for purpose,” Watonga said.

Marking the climax of the day, individual journalists and media houses received awards for their performance in different categories and overall winner was Beatrice Mwape of Malawi Broadcasting Corporation.

Platform for Investigative Journalism (PIJ) emerged the best online media of the year while Times TV was the best TV.

Radio Station of the year award went to Times Radio, as Nation Publications Limited was the best print media house of the year.

By Memory Kutengule Chatonda

Blantyre, May 4, Mana: Pregnant women in Blantyre will, from Monday this week, transition from receiving Iron Folic Acid (IFA) supplements to Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) during antenatal visits to various health facilities.

Safe Motherhood Coordinator for Blantyre District Health Office, Ellida Bvutula, disclosed this in Blantyre during a recent orientation workshop on MMS with frontline staff comprising nurses, pharmacists, and facility heads.

Bvutula who is also a Nursing Officer at Blantyre DHO, said the development follows a study and recommendation from the World Health Organization that the new supplement provides a broader nutritional support to both mothers and unborn babies, unlike IFA.

“MMS, which is an antenatal supplement, provides close to 15 micronutrients, including iron and folic acid, all combined in a single tablet. The single tablet is consumed every day throughout the pregnancy period.

“This is good for pregnant women to improve maternal nutrition and pregnancy outcomes," the Safe Motherhood coordinator,” added.

She said there was is strong evidence that the new supplement is harmless to expectant women, including those with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases and a history of miscarriage.

“We expect that soon after the training sessions on Saturday, Monday, May 5, next week, we should start administering the new supplement," Bvutula said.

Principal Nutrition and HIV and AIDS Officer for Blantyre District Council, Ruth Hara, added that micronutrient levels in MMS are within recommended levels, saying the presence of zinc and vitamins (B1) improves appetite for expectant mothers.

The DHO has so far trained about 700 frontline health workers to understand the new supplement and also disseminate accurate information during antenatal sessions in their respective health facilities.

Nursing Officer for Zingwangwa Health Centre, Pauline Tonde, hailed the DHO for organizing MMS orientation.

She said the new supplement is beneficial to expectant women, pledging to engage health centre-based social behavioural change team at Zingwangwa to disseminate MMS messages through drama, poems, and songs to pregnant mothers during antenatal clinics.

Twenty years of evidence-based research in middle-income countries demonstrated that MMS reduces low birth weight by 19 percent, infant mortality by 29 percent, and preterm birth by 16 percent compared to IFA.                              

By Memory Kutengule Chatonda 

Blantyre, May 4, MANA: Blantyre District Health Office says it has made significant progress in reducing cases of new HIV infections among people in the district due to massive HIV prevention sensitization campaigns under 'Konda Moyo, Konda Blantyre.

The campaign, which is implemented through the Blantyre Preventive Strategy (BPS) by the Blantyre DHO and City Council with funds from the Gates Foundation in partnership with the Centre for Innovation in Global Health at Georgetown University through the Malawi National Aids Commission, seeks to raise awareness among people about HIV preventive measures.

Speaking on Friday during the Konda Blantyre, Konda Moyo campaign at Soche Maternity in the area of Traditional Authority Somba, Blantyre DHO Health and Promotions Officer Chrissy Banda said the BPS was initiated based on the Malawi Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (MPHIA) survey conducted in 2016-17, which indicated that Blantyre was one of the districts with a high burden of HIV.

She said the situation prompted the health office, in collaboration with the city council, to launch a district-based prevention campaign through the BPS to reduce new HIV infections in the district.

"As a district, we have been following our data on how we are faring. We are continuing to implement the campaign in the facilities whenever we observe a slight increase in the number of new HIV infections and STI cases.

"We have been conducting this campaign to sensitize people on HIV preventive measures and also bring the services closer to the people," she said.

According to Banda, through the campaigns, the district has made positive strides in reducing new HIV infections and STIs.

 She cited that new HIV infections are currently at 2 percent, down from 6 percent in previous years based on the Palms data platform.

"This is a good development for us. However, we will not relent in monitoring our data. Once we notice a red flag, we will respond accordingly," Banda said.

Speaking on behalf of TA Somba of Blantyre, Group Village Chiimire hailed the Blantyre DHO and the city council for taking the campaign to the area to sensitize their subjects on HIV prevention measures.

She pledged to spread the messages far and wide using different social gatherings.

So far, similar campaigns have been conducted in various health facilities such as Kachere, Chilomoni, and Soche Maternity.

By Gift Wahuta

Blantyre, May 04, Mana: After electrifying audiences in Lilongwe with a record-breaking premiere, the Malawian film Welcome to Maula Prison, produced by 4Kaya Studios, continued its momentum on Saturday evening at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre.

Although the screening was delayed due to technical glitches and started at 8:50 PM instead of the scheduled 7:00 PM, the excitement among movie lovers remained high; the venue was packed with over a thousand patrons, with some forced to stand throughout the screening due to limited seating.

Speaking after the event, Deputy Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Honourable. Joyce Chitsulo expressed her admiration for the film.

"The film is exciting, exceptionally well-produced, and feels remarkably authentic. It's so impressive, one might not believe it's a Malawian production. My sincere thanks go to the production team and Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) for their sponsorship. This demonstrates the success of the government's efforts to support local artists," she said.

She further emphasized that such initiatives underscore the government's unwavering commitment to promoting the creative sector and uplifting Malawian talent.

Speaking to the media, Public Relations Officer for the movie, Desiree Namachotsa, expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming turnout.

“We are very grateful to the people of Blantyre. The turnout exceeded our expectations to the point where we had to extend the venue setup to accommodate everyone. It shows that Malawians are ready to support local content,” she said.

She disclosed that the film cost approximately K40 million to produce and took about eight months to complete, hence stressed the importance of establishing sustainable distribution methods for the Malawian film industry.

“As Malawians, we need to support the industry by recognizing that we need returns for our investments. That was why we halted the premiere when we discovered that one patron was live streaming our movie,” she explained.

The film, which was sponsored by MACRA’s Universal Service Fund with k17 million along with other partners, has already generated positive feedback as audiences were seen singing along with songs from the movie, demonstrating strong public engagement.

Paul Chiwalo, one of the attendees, also praised the movie and its potential impact.

“It was exciting. After the success of their previous film, School Days, people had high expectations for this one, and it truly delivers. I believe our film industry is moving in the right direction,” he said.

The event also attracted prominent figures in the Malawian film industry, including renowned filmmaker Shemu Joyah and other notable personalities.

The tour continues, with the next premiere scheduled for Mzuzu today.

By Winfrida Kamwana

Mchinji, May 3, Mana: The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) on Friday distributed 800 bags of maize to households in Mchinji that were food insecure in the just-ended lean season under the 2024/2025 lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme.

DoDMA Director of Preparedness and Response, Reverend Moses Chimphepo said since the programme started in September 2024, the department has managed to provide food support to all the people who were registered under the programme.

 “The department has managed to reach out to affected households more than twice in the 21 districts that needed support and we are glad that all 5.7 million registered under the programme have benefitted,” said Chimphepo.

He said it is not just the government’s responsibility to provide food but citizens also need to take part in providing for their households by avoiding selling all the farm produce.

“People need to understand what food budgeting is all about. After harvesting, they need to save enough food to sustain them before selling the remaining produce knowing that at least they have food for themselves,” explained Chimphepo.

Senior group village head Chimwala has since commended DoDMA for distributing the bags of maize saying it has helped a lot of families to overcome the food insecurity in their homes.

“We appreciate the government for this programme because a lot of families were affected in this area and if it weren’t for the food insecurity programme, we would have lost several people due to hunger,” Said Senior Group Chimwala.

One of the beneficiaries, Dorothy John from Chimwala village also commended the department for providing food and highlighted that the 50 Kilogrammes bag of maize has brought relief to her family.

The programme started in September 2024 with support from the World Bank and is expected to run through May 2025.

By Charlie Ligomeka

Machinga, April 3, Mana: District Information Officer for Machinga, Martin Chiwanda has died.

Chiwanda passed away Friday evening at Machinga District Hospital where he was admitted.

District Commissioner (DC) for Machinga Rodrick Mateauma, speaking to Malawi News Agency (MANA), described Chiwanda's death as heartbreaking.

He highlighted Chiwanda's exceptional communication skills and his commitment to the council's development.

"We have worked with him for a long time, and we will remember Chiwanda as a diligent person who always delivered his assignments with expertise.

"He was instrumental in ensuring the council's progress and worked well with everyone in the district, including traditional leaders,” said the DC.

Deputy Regional Information Officer for the South, Evance Chisiano, echoed Mateauma's sentiments, stating that the information department would miss Chiwanda's hard work and dedication.

"He was a young man dedicated to his job, and his contributions will be greatly missed," said Chisiano.

Meanwhile, tributes continue to pour in for the departed journalist.

Manford Chirombo, Nsanje district-based journalist said,” I have learnt with a heavy heart the news about the passing on of Martin Chiwanda a professional colleague and District Information Officer (DIO) for Machinga. I new Martin in 2013 when he was posted to Nsanje District Council as an Assistant DIO. I have learnt a lot from him as I was then new in the profession.

Alfred Guta also said,” Death is so cruel, we talked a few days ago you were saying, "I will be OK aixe ndilibe nkhawa" mkumamva zoti wapita eish Martin Chiwanda ndakulira ine.

Chiwanda joined the Ministry of Information on April 18, 2012.

Born on March 3, 1984, he is survived by his wife and two children.

His body will be laid to rest at Chilipa Trading Centre in Kalonga village, Traditional Authority (TA) Ntonda, Mangochi district, on Monday.