MANAonline
No woman should die while giving life - Daudi
By Tamala Kamanga
Dowa, August 15, Mana: Deputy Minister of Health Halima Daudi has called for concerted efforts to end maternal deaths in the country.
Daudi was speaking Wednesday in Dowa district during the launch of the Lightning Every Birth (LEB) by We Care Solar at Dzoole Health Centre in Traditional Authority Dzoole.
The project aims to improve maternal and newborn outcomes by alleviating electricity challenges at the facility through solar-generated power.
She said life is a blessing and as such no woman should die while giving birth, a thing which can be achieved through collaborative effort.
"One challenge is that many health facilities in remote areas of the country have no electricity and health workers are having difficulties when helping mothers to deliver. In some instances, they even use candles and phone torches for lighting, which is worrisome and dangerous as well.
"As a ministry, we are doing all we can to end these problems but we need all the help we can get from stakeholders. That is why we are very grateful for this development because it will go a long way in improving maternal services in this area and help save lives," she said.
She then thanked We Care for the donation and called for similar interventions to other facilities.
Executive Director and Co-founder of We Care Solar Dr, Laura Stachel said Africa faces high maternal deaths due to energy challenges in health facilities, rendering health workers to provide life-saving care in poor conditions.
Like in Malawi, she said the provision of continuous electricity in rural health facilities has also been a challenge, hence the donation.
"Our goal is to empower health workers with the tools they need to provide quality care even in the most remote areas. These solar lights are more than a source of illumination but also a beacon of hope to mothers and newborn babies in the remotest areas in Malawi," said Stachel.
Member of Parliament for Dowa West, Abel Kayembe has since commended the organization for the gesture.
"In most of our maternity wings, we do not have ESCOM electricity. Therefore, the collaboration of this organization and the Malawi government under the Ministry of Health to install modern solar equipment is a good development and it will bring a great change," he said.
He then asked community members to own the equipment and avoid vandalism.
Apart from solar accessories, the solar suitcase also comes with two rechargeable headlamps, a fetal doppler with rechargeable batteries and a manual book.
African Parks bemoans illegal mining
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, August 15, Mana: African Parks says it fears there will be increased illegal gold mining activities in Nkhotakota Game Reserve during the coming dry months of the year as water levels in Bua River recede.
Park Manager for Nkhotakota Game Reserve, Davie Nangoma, told a wildlife stakeholders meeting in Kasungu on Wednesday that illegal mining activities are rampant as people invade the protected area panning gold deposits in Bua river.
“Gold mining activities are very destructive to the ecosystem and our intelligence shows that the activities will increase as we are approaching drier months of the year.
“We are calling on the police and the judiciary for more support. We may also consider engaging the Malawi Defense Force so that we deal with the problem,” Nangoma said.
However, Nangoma said cases of vandalism have gone down in 2024 as compared to 2023 as only seven kilometres of the perimeter fence has been vandalized against last year’s 29 kilometres.
He said African Parks has invested in more hospitality infrastructure within Nkhotakota Game Reserve citing the completion of Livwezi Bush Camp which is now operational and Navunde Tourism Stop-Over which is still under construction.
During the meeting, various stakeholders expressed concern that the laws of the country do not provide compensation to victims of human-animal conflict, specifically in cases where animals kill or injure people and destroy crops.
Member of Parliament for Kasungu East, Madalitso Kazombo, said there is need for the park authorities to conduct a study on how other countries are managing such cases so that legislators are guided on whether there is a need to change the law.
He said: “We need to be guided if there is a need to change the laws on compensation because I understand that laws must be progressive, active and able to solve people’s challenges.
“We should protect our people but at the same time we do not want to create laws that will negatively affect tourism, so we need to be guided so that we learn on how we can proceed.”
In most southern and east African countries, laws do not provide for compensation to victims of human and wildlife conflicts.
In her remarks, Kasungu District Council Chairperson, Mwambilaso Mbedza said tourism is one of the government’s priority areas hence the need for stakeholders to be in the same direction to ensure that parks and game reserves are protected.
Nkhotakota is the country’s oldest and largest game reserve and was home to over 1,500 elephants, but the population fell to less than 100 in 2015, forcing authorities to translocate 500 elephants from Liwonde and Majete in 2017.
Through conservation works, African Parks has also brought in 850 different species of animals to improve animal sightings and attract more tourists.
IFA supplements, key to keeping girls in school
By Lisa Lamya
Blantyre, August 15, Mana: In a bid to prevent iron deficiency and anaemia in adolescent girls between the ages of 10 and 19, a German KFW funded project is providing the girls with Iron Folic Acid (IFA) supplements.
The development is said to be addressing the problem of absenteeism among female learners especially during their menstrual period.
Ivy Mbalame, a Standard 8 learner at Mwayi Primary School in Mgalamadzi Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Machinjiri in Blantyre told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on the side-lines of a media tour that ever since she started taking the tablets her well-being has improved.
“During our menstruation period, we lose some essential nutrients but we get iron tablets which replenish those lost nutrients,” Mbalame said.
Before receiving the tablets, the girls are given nutritious porridge, according to Eveless Ntope, a Sanitation Health and Nutrition (SHN) teacher at Mwayi Primary school.
“It is difficult for some families to provide nutritious food to their children, as such we give them IFA supplements so that they reduce the risk of developing iron deficiency and anaemia,” Ntope said.
Ntope said the learners receive IFA supplements once a week.
The KFW project is being implemented by the United Nations Children’s Fund in collaboration with Farmers Union of Malawi and Malawi Government.
Construction of one storey Thyolo Boma Primary School begins
By Yamikani Yapuwa
Thyolo, August 15, Mana: In a bid to alleviate the longstanding issue of inadequate primary school facilities, Thyolo District Council has launched the construction of a new school known as Thyolo Boma Primary School.
Speaking during the launch, Thyolo District Commissioner, Hudson Kuphanga said the one storey infrastructure with a capacity of 240 pupils will expand access to quality education.
“The construction of this primary school will reduce the persistent problem of inadequate primary schools in Thyolo; thereby, increasing access for learners to quality education services,” said Kuphanga.
He noted that the project has several positive impacts including reducing overcrowding in existing schools, shortening the distance learners have to endure to attend school and improving the pupil-classroom ratio.
“Our children from this area cover distances of more than five kilometres on a daily basis to attend classes which is a demotivating factor on its own in their pursuit for education.
“So, the coming of this school will reduce the distance as well as decongest Mpinji, Nachipere, Adolorata and Mbandanga primary schools,” said the DC.
Kuphanga also called for collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the smooth implementation of the project.
“We request all stakeholders, including the community, political leaders, contractors and all relevant structures to collaborate effectively for the success of this project,” he added.
Member of Parliament for Thyolo Central, Ben Phiri said he was pleased with the development, calling it ‘a dream come true’ for the community.
“The community is excited and I am excited too. Our children who were walking long distances will be relieved and we hope that the construction work proceeds as planned,” the legislator said.
Director of Education, Youth and Sports for Thyolo, Rabbie Kawalala noted that the project marks a positive step towards addressing the district’s critical shortage of classroom space.
Kawalala disclosed that the district currently serves 211 331 primary school learners, 104 286 boys and 107 045 girls with just 1 813 classrooms, leading to a pupil-classroom ratio of 117:1.
“This means that 51% of the pupils are forced to learn in open spaces. With the current enrolment, the district needs 3 522 classrooms to meet the recommended ratio of 60 pupils per classroom, highlighting a shortfall of 1 709 classrooms,” Kawalala explained.
The K598 million project which is part of World Bank's GESD project, consists of a one-storey school block comprising of four classrooms with a capacity of 60 desks each, two VIP latrines for leaners each with three drop holes, one room on each block, will have disability friendly facilities and two teacher’s houses.
The project is expected to be completed within 150 days.
UTM Youth Directorate to hold flag raising parade in Mangochi
By Ernest Mfunya
Mangochi, August 15, Mana. The UTM Party through its youth directorate has organized a two days’ youth parade dubbed "Flag Raising Parade" where various activities are expected to take place.
UTM Youth Director, Penjani Kalua told Malawi News Agency (Mana) that the parade which will start on Friday, 16 to Saturday, 17 August, 2024 has been organized to honour late Saulos Chilima who until his death was the party’s president and Vice President of the Republic of Malawi.
Kalua said the parade seeks to mobilize the youths to ensure they register their names once registration for the 2025 general elections begins,
“We want to encourage the youths especially those who are eligible to vote to register once the registration process begins. This is to make sure that they exercise their right to vote,” said Kalua.
According to Kalua the parade will start on Friday with football and netball games where teams based in Mangochi will compete in a K1 million football and netball trophies followed by a talent show on Saturday at Mangochi Stadium.
“We have lined up a number of activities to spice up our parade. for instance, there will be a football and netball competition on the first day and on the second, we want to give the youth an opportunity to showcase their talents,
“There will be music, poetry and other performances. We are planning to have Onesimus as a guest artist to entertain young people who will come on this day,” added Kalua.
One of the youths who is also a music artist in the district, Kris Taddy Nazombe described the parade as a golden opportunity for the youths to display talent.
He observed that youths in the district lack platforms to showcase and promote their talents and commended UTM youth directorate, saying the event will give them confidence to shape their music career.
Launched on July 21, 2018, UTM) is a political party founded by late Chilima.
Joaquim Chissano University honours President Chakwera
By Fostina Mkandawire
Salima, August 15, Mana: Joaquim Chissano University on Thursday conferred a Doctorate Degree in International Cooperation and Development to President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera for his strategic thinking and adopting external policies to develop synergies with neighbouring countries.
Making his remarks, after officially accepting the Doctorate Degree at Joaquim International Conference Centre, in Maputo, Mozambique, President Chakwera said there is no country that can develop without international cooperation.
"No matter how developed or resilient a country can be, it can never thrive without external assistance, international cooperation is the only reasonable path to a prosperous future, if you remove international cooperation from any country it will collapse," he said.
President Chakwera said it is delusional for a nation to think that it can survive on its own; a nation is sovereign and not self-contained.
"In fact, nowhere is this reality more true than in Malawi’s relations with its neighbours. Malawi’s prosperity and security depends on a robust relationship with the countries with whom she shares her borders, and among these countries, the country that we share a lion’s share of our border with is Mozambique," he said.
President Chakwera said for the past four years global challenges such as COVID 19 and natural disasters has seen countries becoming more connected through challenges that have been cross boarder.
"It does not matter who gets it first but working together as brotherhood of nations, by combating challenges together such as climate change impacts such as cyclone Freddy that hit both Mozambique and Malawi, COVID 19," he said.
On this point President Chakwera said, he was honoured and humbled to accept the honorary doctorate, which recognizes his efforts to foster international cooperation, mentioning that among the cooperation none has been stronger than the one-he shares with President Nyusi and the people of Mozambique.
Vice Registrar at Joaquim Chissano University, Senior Professor Jose Magode said in April, the University Council rigorously scrutinized President Chakwera's commitment and dedication to strengthening international cooperation with other countries.
He said the University established that Chakwera first visited Mozambique after ascending to power in October 2020 as one way of developing a strong relationship with Mozambique by making agreements that have benefited the people from the two countries.
"The bilateral relations of Mozambique and Malawi has seen the interdependence of the two countries sharing benefits in areas that are mutually beneficial, the relations are leveraging on areas of strength of the two countries," he added.
The Registrar highlighted that the University recognized that President Chakwera ascended to power at a time Malawi was facing forex shortage, natural disasters and COVID 19.
He said with President Chakwera's strategic thinking and adopting external policies there has been a turn around and a recovery plan with innovative solutions to challenges that the country has been facing has been established.
Joaquim Chissano University was established on February 5, 1986, and article 6 of the university's honorific privileges, there is a Legal provision of conferment of honorary degrees to individuals who have exhibited dedication to the community and humanity.
Disaster risk management law to communities
By Wallace Chipeta
Lilongwe, August 15, Mana: Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has said communication and civic education practitioners need to expedite educating the communities on contents of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Act to save lives, property and infrastructure.
Director of Preparedness and Response in DODMA Rev. Moses Chimphepo said this at Lilongwe Hotel Wednesday during a daylong workshop on validation of key messages developed from DRM Act.
He indicated that the law was passed by Parliament in 2023 to provide for disaster preparedness, risk reduction, response and recovery and needs to reach out to the communities for them to be able to reduce risks in managing disasters.
Speaking on behalf of participants to the message validation workshop, Executive Director of Human Rights of Women and Girls with Disabilities, Stella Nkhonya asked DoDMA and other stakeholders to consider persons with disabilities when disseminating messages because they are vulnerable to disasters.
She advised communicators to monitor impact messages make on communities once dissemination is done.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) sponsored the message validation workshop organized by DoDMA.
Committee urges government to invest more in social protection
By Priscilla Phiri
Ntchisi, August 14, Mana: Chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Social and Community Affairs, Savel Kafwafwa has pleaded with the government to increase the amount of income allocated to Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) beneficiaries to effectively alleviate poverty in the country.
He said this at an event organized by the Ministry of Gender, Social Welfare, and Community Development aimed at appreciating the progress of the SCTP in Ntchisi district on Wednesday at Gwangwa Primary School, TA Kalumo.
Kafwafwa said a number of beneficiaries graduating from the programme have been able to improve their livelihoods by managing the reasonable amount they received from the programme.
“We came here to look into the practical issues related to social cash transfer, and we have very good news. We have seen that the programme has helped transform a lot of people who were almost beggars, but now they have their own assets like goats, sheep, houses, and businesses, which is highly commendable,” he said.
The Chairperson noted that most of the beneficiaries of the programme managed to develop significantly after receiving a larger sum of money in arrears.
He observed some households, although they are graduating, have not been able to realize much from the programme due to extreme poverty among other challenges.
“We have observed that some households have not benefited much from the programme because of extreme poverty, which has raised questions on whether the money is really enough during our visit to the households. However, there are others that have just been careless with the money. For instance, we failed to meet one beneficiary because he went out drinking immediately after he received his money,” Kafwafwa added.
He pleaded with the government to consider increasing the amount given to the beneficiaries to meaningfully rescue them from the jaws of poverty.
“It’s high time that Malawi allocated enough funds for the programme. We commend this government, especially the President, for increasing the average monthly allocation for the beneficiaries from K10,000 to K18,000. We still plead for more so that others may benefit from the programme,”Kafwafwa said.
He appealed to the Ministry of Gender to review its database to manage to help those that are deserving.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Sofileti Soko, who was among the graduates of the program at Gwangwa, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the government for giving her hope through the SCTP.
“I had no capital to start my business, but after I got selected to benefit from this programme, I managed to start a business and learn how to sustain it through the programme. A number of us are now financially capable of managing our households as well as the income by multiplying it through village banks, another strategy that we have learned from the programme,” she said.
Deputy Director responsible for SCTP in the Ministry of Gender, Social Welfare, and Community Development, Ben M’bwana, commended beneficiaries who utilized their funds well by starting businesses and farming, among other activities, saying they have set a good example for other beneficiaries to follow.
Social Cash Transfer Programme locally known as Mtukula Pakhomo is an unconditional cash transfer programme targeted to ultra-poor, labour-constrained households.
Police arrests illegal pharmacy dealers and seize medical products
By Sellah Chunda
Lilongwe August 15, Mana: Lilongwe Police on Wednesday, seized assorted medical products and equipment’s worth millions of kwacha and arrested two suspects for possessing and selling medical drugs illegally.
The suspects have been identified as Hardson Malenga, 65, and his daughter Reginna Stander, 31.
Lilongwe Police Spokesperson, Inspector, Hastings Chigalu said through a special operation targeting all criminal activities in the city, invaded Lilongwe Main Market at Mpanipani location and managed to seize medical products in three shops owned by different individuals.
Some of the medical products are suspected to have been sourced from public hospitals. However, some of the batches on the drugs are showing that they expired in 2018.
Meanwhile, Police is currently waiting for experts from the Pharmacy, Medicines and Regulatory Authority (PMRA) for assessment of the drugs.
The Suspects hail from Chilinde Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Tsabango in Lilongwe and will appear in court to answer cases of possessing and selling medical products without license and conducting pharmacy business on unlicensed premises.
Gateway Mall Netball league show down
By Tione Andsen
Lilongwe, August 14, Mana: Battle for bubbly points in K40 million Central Region Gateway Mall Netball League continues this coming weekend with current League Leaders, Blue Eagles Sisters set to amalgamate their quest for the season’s title.
The Weekend is overflowing with thrilling fixtures worth watching from terraces as both Saturday and Sunday is filled with top actions at Gateway Netball Court in Area 47 Sector One where beehive of netballing talents will be showcased.
Blue Eagles Sisters are leading the 10 team pack with 10 points from five games after accumulating 262 baskets against 115 with 147 goal difference while Young Eagles are trailing behind them with eight points from same number of games played.
The Leaders are yet to register a defeat and have strictly maintained their 100 per winning record among the 10 team in the league.
The Young Eagles have netted eight more baskets as compared to leaders perching them at 270 against 134with a goal difference of 136 and are second on the ladder
Lioness are third on the table with eight points have bagged 209 baskets against 152 and have a goal difference of 57.
However, Eagles’ Sisters arch rivals, Civonets are lying fourth on the log half way through the first round with eight points and have 205 baskets to their credit against 173 with a goal difference of 32.
They need to pull up their stockings if they are to march their rivals, Blue Eagles Sisters owing to the fact that that they lost in a City derby 39-26 last at Saturday at Gateway Netball Court.
The Mpico sponsorship league has seen the bottom three teams namely Boma, Immigration and Sharpshooters having tough time and are failing to make it to the grades.
Boma with two points on eight position netted 229 baskets against 215 with a goal difference of 14, Immigration has 121 baskets with a goal difference of -141 and has two points on ninth and Sharpshooters are anchoring the log table without a point have managed to net 90 baskets against -206.
Blue Eagles Sisters Coach, Madano Tepetheya said they have two fixtures tom fulfill although his team is carrying some injuries by replacements are there to fill in the gap.
“We preparing to win the games and the teams, we playing are not our size and people know that home of netball is Blue Eagles, you can ask anyone about it,” he bragged.
Efforts to talk to Immigration Coach, Aaron Gopani, proved futile as his two mobile numbers went unanswered after several attempts on Wednesday afternoon.
The week six fixtures are as follows:
Saturday, August 17, 2024
Sharpshooters vs Civonets @ 9:00
Vanessa vs Mafco @ 10:30
Immigration vs Young Eagles @ 13:00
Blue Eagles Sisters vs Dyna Queens @14:30
Mafco vs Boma @16:00
Sunday August 18, 2024
Young Eagles vs Lioness @ 9:00
Immigration vs Civonets @ 10:30
Boma vs Dyna Sisters @ 13:00
Sharpshooters vs Blue Eagles Sisters @14:30
Vanessa Sisters vs Lioness 1600
