By Patricia Kapulula

Lilongwe, March 26, Mana: Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) has expressed concern over lack of an allocation to the public health emergency response in the 2024/2025 national budget.

MHEN Executive Director, George Jobe, sounded the concern in Lilongwe Monday evening when it, in partnership with Oxfam, Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM), SAT Malawi and SRHR Alliance, presented the 2024/2025 budget analysis report on the health sector.

MHEN and partners met leaders of parliamentary committees to present the report.

Jobe said, much as Covid-19 and Cholera have subsided, the country still experience natural disasters such as floods and cyclones which require funding to address health related challenges associated with such disasters.

“There is no public health emergency allocation at the moment compared to previous years. We should not only look at Covid-19 that it is not there and Cholera is not affecting us, but also at disasters that we are experiencing. These require the health sector to have emergency response funding,” he said.

He, therefore, called upon parliament to critically look at this and consider an allocation to the response.

SRHR Alliance Executive Director, Hastings Saka, emphasised on the need to put in place strategies that would address demands in supplies and commodities in the health sector in order for the country to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.

Chairperson for Parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance, Gladys Ganda, appreciated concerns raised saying as Members of Parliament they will lobby the house to consider funding and increasing funding to critical areas.

“The analysis has helped us appreciate areas that government has done well and to see gaps that are there.

“Some of the gaps that we have noted are to do with achievement of the universal health coverage by 2030,” she said.

She said much as the country is going towards that, as the budget allocation to the health sector has increased, there is need to note where that allocation is going to.

The health sector has been allocated 12.2 percent of the 2024/2025 total budget.

By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, March 25, Mana: President Lazarus Chakwera has commissioned the commencement of construction works of the 25 billion-litre capacity Kholongo Multipurpose Dam in Dowa, with a call for the country to invest in irrigation agriculture for sustainable food security and development.

Chakwera said Malawi has experienced intermittent levels of rainwater, a development which has brought mixed fortunes to the country's food security, hence the need to switch to irrigation.

"Low water levels have damaged our crops. High levels of water have also washed away our crops and we are in a state of emergency with 23 out of the 28 districts in Malawi at risk of food shortages. Therefore, one thing for sure is that we can no longer rely on rain-fed agriculture.

"It is for this reason that we must invest in irrigation agriculture, where we should be able to harvest water and use it for our irrigation activities to improve food security. That is why we are commissioning the construction of this multipurpose dam," he said.

The dam, which is being constructed at Kasese Village under Senior Chief Chakhaza, will carter for 1,507 hectares of irrigation land.

The 22-metre high and 1.1-kilometre long earth dam is also expected to serve 8.5 hectares of fish farms and other recreation activities.

Chakwera also said that as the country talks of a new Malawi under Agenda 2063, one critical issue to look at is the availability of potable water for people's good life.

"The dam will, therefore, also provide potable water to surrounding communities like Kasese, Mtiti and Mponela, with 140,000 people expected to benefit in terms of safe water consumption.

"Today is, as such, a very important day for people around Kasese, Madisi, Mponela, Mtiti and the rest of the country," said Chakwera.

He then called upon all involved contractors and partners to work with dedication, considering the magnitude of the project which is being financed by Malawi Government.

The launch also coincided with commemoration of World Water Day, aimed at raising awareness and tackling challenges facing the water sector which internationally falls on March 22.

Minister of Water and Sanitation Abida Mia said the objective of the project is to positively impact people and bring an era of prosperity to the communities.

"It is a significant step in promoting reliable access to water to communities. It will also provide sustainable income generation activities to people surrounding the communities, hence enhancing sustainable socioeconomic growth, which is a vision of government," she said.

She added that the flagship project represents collaboration between various sectors like irrigation, fisheries, and sanitation.

Mia then commended government for what she described as a huge investment in the project.

Speaking during the event, Chairperson of Central Region Water Board (CRWB), Eddison Mombera, said the launch marks a significant milestone in the board's quest of providing potable water to its catchment areas.

He, however, said it was important for the board to secure more funding for its activities, especially at the time when the board has suffered huge infrastructure damage.

"As CRWB, we are however committed to ensure all people have access to potable water, and we remain firm in implementing the President's vision," he said.

Parliamentarian for Dowa, Ngala Arthur Mabvuto Sungitsa, in his remarks commended the President for fulfilling his promises to the people of Dowa and the country at large.

He said the dam will not only improve water sanitation and irrigation activities, but also improve the overall socio-economic status of the people.

"It will open up small and medium scale business opportunities amongst locals. It will also open tourism activities as people from outside the country will be interested to visit the dam. We also expect a boom in social amenities around the community. So, we are very excited about the whole project," he said.

Speaking earlier, Senior Chief Chakhaza said the project will solve huge water challenges facing his area and surrounding communities. He therefore asked the communities to take care of the project.

By Mtsano Chasweka

Mulanje, March 25, Mana: Ministry of Health has put in place a number of interventions to end Tuberculosis (TB) and Leprosy by 2030.

Chief of Health Services Reforms in the ministry, Dr Mathias Joshua, disclosed this on Sunday during World TB and Leprosy Day commemoration in Mulanje. 

The commemoration was held at Khaya Primary School in Senior Chief Chikumbu's area under the theme ‘Yes! We can end TB’ and ‘Act now: End Leprosy’.

“We are aiming at raising awareness, investments in mobile diagnostic vans, equipment and treatment, among others,” said Joshua.

He added that Ministry of Health and partners were doing all necessary ways and means to eradicating TB and Leprosy.

Word Health Organization (WHO) Technical Officer, Ishmael Nyasulu, called for collaborative efforts to end TB and Leprosy by 2030.

“Malawi should increase domestic funding for TB because all the procedures require   adequate resources,” he said.

One of TB survivors in the district, Tonias Mlimbo, urged communities to go for hospital medication, testifying that TB is treatable and curable with proper diagnosis and treatment.

Milimbo said was diagnosed and cured of TB between 2017 to 2019.

During the commemoration, Mulanje was awarded best performing district, alongside Mwanza and Karonga, on TB treatment.

By Wellington Sibale & Trinity Kamwani

Neno, March 25, Mana: Philanthropist, Triphonia Mpinganjira, through her foundation Africa Child on Sunday launched a K10 million football and netball league in Neno.

Speaking during the launch, Mpinganjira who is spouse to business magnet, Dr Thom Mpinganjira, said the trophy will promote sports and raise awareness on non-communicable diseases like diabetes, asthma and epilepsy.

Mpinganjira, who comes from Neno, said the league targets both primary and secondary schools in Traditional Authority (TA) Chekucheku in the district.

“The foundation will work hand in hand with teachers to identify children that abscond from school for a week and make follow up,” she said.

She observed that most of the children are compelled to drop out of school from suffering from non-communicable diseases at the ignorance of parents or guardians and as such Africa Child will reach out to the children that drop out school.

District Youth Officer for Neno, Ian Sukali, commended Mpinganjira for the league describing it first of its kind.

He requested that the league be extended to other excluded traditional authorities.

During the launch, Chiwale Secondary played against Chikonde Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) while Chikonde Model Primary tussled with Kaponda Primary School and social teams, Neno United played against Neno Eagles FC.

All participating teams were presented with Triphonia Mpinganjira League branded kits.

Present at the event were former Malawi National Netball Team shooter, Mary Waya, and comedian Andrea 'Mr. Jokes' Thonyiwa.

Police parade spiced it up while Amapiano sensation, Zeze Kingston, performed before the crowd.

Africa Child Foundation has branches in Kasungu and Salima to ensure quality child education, child protection and health intervention for improved well-being.

By Salome Gangire

Neno, March 25, Mana: Chief Education Officer for Neno, Sonnex Likharuwe, has challenged teachers in the district to improve the pass rate in national examinations to put Neno among top five performing districts at national level.

He was speaking over the weekend at the community hall during the 2023 Neno Best Teachers Awards Day held under the theme “Promoting quality education”.

He said with teamwork, cordial relationship between school authorities, communities and school structures, it is possible to produce best results and be among the top five.

“We have the human resource here and schools which did not achieve a 100 percent pass rate should learn from their colleagues who performed well,” Likharuwe added.

He said Neno was improving in its national examinations performance as it scoped 83.4 percent in last year’s Primary School Leaving Certificates of education (PSLCE) examinations.

Likharuwe said it was pleasing that 17 schools scooped 100 percent pass rate which is very commendable.

He, therefore, reminded teachers of adherence to the teacher’s code of conduct by not abusing a girl child saying the penalty is dismal.

District Commissioner for Neno, Rosemary Nawasha, thanked teachers and head teachers whose schools performed well in last year’s examinations.

She said development without education is nothing as such it starts with a teacher hence the need for teachers to dedicate themselves to their job.

“As a district council, we are also measured by how we are doing our service delivery one of which is education. Your performance has given Neno a mark at national level because this shows that the district is improving its education service delivery,” Nawasha said.

She told the teachers that the rewards they received were a token of appreciation to motivate them for the sacrifice they do as some work in hard to reach areas.

Nawasha, therefore, thanked Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO), World Vision and Member of Parliament for Neno North, Thoko Tembo, for contributing towards the event.

EGENCO Senior Human Resources Officer, Gift Phulanya Ulanda, said as an education partner, they recognise the invaluable contribution that teachers play in shaping the minds and futures of the nation’s youths.

“Teachers play a pivotal role in nurturing creativity and instilling knowledge in the minds of students,” Ulanda said.

Teachers whose students got as were rewarded with K50,000 cash, best performing schools who scooped 100 percent pass rate were awarded with K100,000, and best Primary Education Advisors were awarded with K100,000.

By Manasse Nyirenda

Rumphi, March 24, Mana: Mzuzu Agriculture Development Division (ADD) has urged farmers in Rumphi district to priorities crop diversification in order to promote food security and improve nutrition among farming households in the district.

The division's Deputy Program Manager, Anderson Chikomola, disclosed this Friday on the sidelines of an agriculture field day which the division, together with Rumphi District Agriculture Extension Coordinating Committee (DAECC), held at Kawaza Primary School ground in Bolero Extension Planning Area (EPA).

Chikomola said crop diversification will help farmers adapt to adverse effects of climate change that has made the country experience some rainfall breaks and cyclones that have affected the agriculture sector.

“Farmers should be able to cultivate different crops which will help them have balanced diet. This is crucial because they will rely on other crops when others fail and will be able to be resilient and make farming a business,” he said.

Chairperson for Rumphi District Council, Councillor Harry Mnyenyembe, said agriculture field days are important because they help in making crop estimates and help farmers draw important lessons on agriculture production.

One of the farmers, Florence Nkhonjera, who grows banana and rears pigs encouraged fellow women to be economically independent and not solely rely on their husbands.

“It is important for women to engage in farming because we are mothers and we have huge responsibilities of keeping our families. We, therefore, don’t need to solely depend on our husbands who also have other responsibilities,” he said.

This year’s agricultural field day was commemorated under the theme ‘Building rural communities resilience through agricultural diversification and Agri business development.’