MANAonline
Lilongwe District Council decries school feeding support
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, February 15, Mana: Lilongwe District Council Principal Nutrition and HIV and AIDS Officer, Edna Nakanga Mwangonde, has emphasized on the need for collaborated efforts in scaling-up school feeding programme in the district saying very few learners are benefiting from the programme.
Mwangonde made the call Wednesday during a District Nutrition Coordinating Committee (DNCC) quarterly meeting which was conducted to update stakeholders on nutrition activities taking place in the district.
She said it was sad that out of 490 primary schools in the district, only 105 schools are on the programme representing 21 percent of those benefiting from school meals.
“We are very much behind and it is a danger considering high levels of malnutrition and food insecurity among children particularly those from poor and rural households,” she said.
Mwangonde, therefore, appealed to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to support the district so that it reaches out to more learners with the progamme.
Lilongwe East District School Health and Nutrition Coordinator, Joseph Kanyangala, said if well implemented the programme has potential to reduce drop-out and malnutrition rates.
“The program is a great success because it addresses school drop-out rate which was high in the past. Even classroom attendance, which was very low, has improved. We just need to add more schools,” he said.
Lilongwe Civil Society Network Chairperson, Gibozi Mphanzi, said the figures are worrisome hence the need for stakeholders to map the way forward as quick as possible.
“My worry is that we are in lean season and this may also affect school attendance and learner’s performance. Additionally, cases of malnutrition among learners may also increase,” he said.
The National School Feeding Program, which is implemented by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with various ministries, development partners, and NGOs, is aimed at providing daily meals to primary school children.
225 farming households in Phalombe expected to be food secure
By Linda Likomwa
Phalombe, February 15, Mana: 225 farming household in Traditional Authority (TA) Nkhulambe in Phalombe are expected to be food secure following the harvest of 150 tonnes of maize after receiving maize seed and fertilizer as part of Tropical Cyclone Freddy recovery plan.
Phalombe District Irrigation Officer, Davie Chikhadwe, told Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Wednesday that Ministry of Agriculture, with support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, assisted the farming households with maize seed and fertilizer following Tropical Cyclone Freddy that had hit the district.
“We distributed farm inputs to farmers who planted on 30 hectares of land in October 2023. They followed all instructions on planting, taking care of the crop including applying fertilizer. They were also told not to sell green maize and the outcome is impressive,” Chikhadwe explained.
Phalombe benefited 750 kilogrammes of maize seed, 3750 kilogrammes of NPK and 3750 kilogrammes of UREA fertilizers which were distributed to irrigation farmers from Chakalamba, Likhatcha and Mleka irrigation schemes.
Secretary for Likatcha Irrigation Scheme, Omex Malenga, said most farmers, who lost farm produce during the Cyclone Freddy induced rains, benefited from the farm inputs.
He said after some months the farmers went back to their fields following support from government and well-wishers to start irrigation.
Another beneficiary from Likatcha Irrigation Scheme, Macneil Banda, thanked government for the inputs.
Banda advised fellow farmers to start practicing irrigation farming saying it is ideal amidst dry spells.
Chakalamba Irrigation Scheme beneficiary, Prisca Tembulo, said she rented a plot within the scheme after hers got washed away due to Cyclone Freddy.
“Our field was covered with sand and we could not cultivate on it. I am now food secure because I am expecting to harvest four bags of maize of 50 kilogrammes each. In March I am going to plant again to ensure my family is food secure,” she said.
Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, received a donation of 100 metric tonnes of fertilizer and 10 tonnes hybrid maize seed as a donation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The farm inputs were distributed to 4000 irrigation farmers in Tropical Cyclone Freddy affected districts covering a total of 400 hectares of land to ensure production of a minimum of 2000 tonnes of grain.
MHEN calls for collaboration to boost child vaccination rates
By Monica Banda
Mchinji, February 15, Mana: The Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN), has emphasised the importance of collaboration between Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) and mother care groups for the success of the implementation of Immunization Strengthening project.
MHEN Executive Director, George Jobe, made the remarks in Mchinji on Wednesday during an engagement with HSAs aimed at strengthening sustainability of vaccination interventions.
Jobe said MHEN is working together with the Ministry of Health under the project that is promoting vaccination for children.
He said, as MHEN, their role is demand creation and community mobilization.
“We thought of bringing together all HSAs in order to cement the linkage between them and mother care groups and also assess how we have performed and how we should move forward in providing necessary support to mother care groups while at the same time prepare for further implementation of the project,” said Jobe.
District Health Officer for Mchinji, Yohane Mwale, expressed satisfaction with the project's progress and commended MHEN for its efforts.
Mwale cautioned HSAs against misappropriating bicycles designated for mother care groups, saying that such resources are meant to benefit the community.
“l would like to congratulate MHEN on the job well done and l would also want to give a last warning to HSAs who are taking bicycles meant for mother care groups to never do that again as the bicycles belongs to mother care groups not HSAs,” he said.
An HAS working with Kapanje Mother Care Group in Katchuka Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Simphasi, Tobiyasi Kachele, praised MHEN's contributions to community health.
“There is a significant increase in child vaccination rates since the project's inception. This is so due to enhanced awareness among mothers about the benefits of vaccination,” said Kachele.
The Healthy Systems in Immunisation Strengthen Project, funded by GAVI and the Government of Malawi, plays a crucial role in providing support such as refrigerators and capacity building for HSAs.
MHEN's primary focus within this initiative is to drive demand creation, advocacy, and community mobilization across all districts in Malawi.
Government set to distribute insecticide treated nets
By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhata Bay, February 14, Mana: Programme Manager for National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), Dr Lumbani Munthali, has disclosed that the Ministry of Health is geared to distribute 11.7 million insecticide treated nets (ITN) across the country.
Speaking on Tuesday during review meeting for indoor residual spraying (IRS) programme in Salima, Munthali said the mass distribution is in line with government’s goal to eradicate malaria in the country by 2030.
Munthali said the nets are expected to be in the county by July while the distribution exercise is expected to start in September this year.
“Due to lack of funds, we are no longer continuing with IRS in the four districts of Nkhata Bay, Balaka, Mangochi and Nkhotakota. So, we decided to conduct mass net distribution in all 28 districts with the inclusion of public primary schools in the districts where IRS was implemented.
“There will be high intensity of community sensitization before, during and after the exercise. We lobbied our partners to put more resources for awareness and we expect high utilization of the nets and let me plead with all communities to make sure the nets are used for the intended purpose,” he said.
He said 6.4 million malaria cases were registered in Malawi in 2023, of which 1,600 people died, indicating that malaria is still a public health problem.
Munthali then commended World Vision and Vector Link for successful implementation of IRS in the country for over three years which contributed to 40 percent reduction of malaria cases in the first year and consistent reduction of malaria cases in subsequent years in the districts where IRS was being implemented.
Lovemore Mtotera, a resident in Salima town under Traditional Authority Kalonga, commended government for the initiative of mass net distribution as not everyone can afford to purchase them.
The ITN mass distribution will be implemented with support from Global Fund and US Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI) with a total cost of US$50 million.
Project applauded for boosting immunization coverage in Chitipa
By Aliko Munde
Chitipa, February 14, Mana: Chitipa District Council has applauded Health Systems and Immunization Strengthening (HSIS) project, implemented by Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN), for increasing immunization coverage in Chitipa District from 75 percent in 2019 to 81 percent in 2024.
District Environmental Health Officer (DEHO) for Chitipa, O'john Mpoha, made the sentiments on Wednesday during HSIS project
engagement meeting aimed at strengthening linkages between health surveillance assistants and mother care groups.
Mpoha commended mother care groups model being used by the project, saying the group members are playing vital roles in following up children who have defaulted immunization.
“We have had difficulties in improving immunization coverage in the district. But with the coming in of Health Systems and Immunization Strengthening project and establishment of mother care groups, immunization coverage in the district has improved,” Mpoha explained.
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for MHEN, Florence Khonyongwa, said mother care group members were empowered to do advocacy, default track under-five children, create demand on immunization and register under-five children.
“The mother care groups have also facilitated construction and renovation of houses for health surveillance assistants, health posts and under-five children shelters in hard to reach areas, among other achievements,” Khonyongwa said.
MHEN is implementing HSIS project in nine districts with financial support from Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiative (GAVI) through the Ministry of Health’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI).
Communities demand improved beneficiary identification for LSFIRP
By Austine Patrice Kachilika
Mzimba, February 14, Mana: Communities under Traditional Authorities (T/A) Mzikubola and Kampingo Sibande in Mzimba have asked council authorities to improve on identification of beneficiaries for relief food under 2023/24 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme (LSFIRP).
Speaking during a beneficiary verification exercise for CERC Maize Flour Support under the 2023/2024 LSFIRP on Tuesday, Dalabo Hara from Group Village Head (GVH) Zamagumbo, T/A Mzikubola in the district said some undeserving individuals were benefiting from the programme.
“We were told that Unified Beneficiary Registry (UBR) is the criteria adopted for the selection of relief beneficiaries; however, some most deserving individuals were left out of the programme while others who were at least able to fend for themselves were found on the beneficiary list,” she said.
One of the programme’s beneficiaries, Kefless Gausi from GVH Magumbo under T/A Mzikubola in the district, suggested that council officials should be visiting communities to assess severity of beneficiaries’ vulnerability instead of depending entirely on the UBR system’s data.
In his remarks, District Social Welfare Officer for Mzimba South, Sebastian Mkandawire, said all recommendations will be taken into consideration to ensure smooth implementation in the upcoming relief food distribution phase.
“We also urge you to report any misconduct and provide your feedback on the programme’s progress by dialing our toll-free numbers that will be communicated to you soon as part of the programme’s grievance addressing mechanism,” said Mkanadwire.
Nkhata Bay District Council reconstitutes ADCs, VDCs
By Chisomo Kambandanga
NKhata Bay, February 14, Mana: Community Development Officer for Nkhata Bay District, Jacob Moloko, says the council is reconstituting area development committees (ADC) and village development committees (VDC) in the district.
This comes following concerns that absence of such community structures is greatly affecting development activities, as implementing partners struggle to recognize who to work with at community level.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, Maloko said the council had already reconstituted 11 out of 19 ADCs in the district and was set to finalize the whole exercise by end February.
"With a directive from the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture, VDCs and ADCs were dissolved in September 2023 across the country. However, councils were tasked to reconstitute these committees as soon as possible and Nkhata Bay has made progress regarding this process," he said.
While applauding some development partners for financially supporting the council to quicken the exercise, Maloko pleaded for more support.
"We thank our implementing partners, such as World Vision, Temwa Organization and Livingstonia Synod AIDS Program for timely support they have given the council in reconstituting the 11 ADCs but also hopeful of more support from other partners who are promising to come in," he said.
Chairperson for civil society organizations (CSOs) in Nkhata Bay, Micheal Mwanachawa, said the CSOs were also aiming to support in capacity building of the new ADCs and VDCs for effective implementation of project activities.
Communities demand revision of National Parks and Wildlife Act
By George Mponda
Karonga, February 14, Mana: Community members from areas surrounding Nyika National Park and Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve in Malawi have asked government to revise the current National Parks and Wildlife Act, saying it is not serving the interests of people.
Chairperson for Nyika-Vwaza Association in Rumphi, Mary Gondwe, said this on Tuesday in Karonga during a two-day Stakeholder Engagement Plan and Grievous Redress Mechanism (GRM) workshop organized by Malawi-Zambia Trans frontier Conservation Area (MAZA-TFCA) project.
Gondwe said community members are of the view that the current National Parks and Wildlife Act favours animals at the expense of human beings.
"When wild animals destroy people’s fields or when they kill a person, there is nothing done to compensate them but when a person kills an animal, they are given jail sentences as long as 30 years.
“This is making it difficult for people to commit themselves to conservation efforts, as they feel oppressed by the very system they are supposed to protect," she said.
She said collaboration between the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the community in efforts to conserve Nyika and Vwaza Wildlife Reserves will progress well if the people living around these areas are also protected by the National Parks and Wildlife Act.
In a separate interview, MAZA-TFCA Project Manager George Nxumayo said the stakeholder engagement meeting was meant to provide a platform for people from communities around Nyika National Park and Vwaza Game Reserve and other stakeholders who are interested in conservation and livelihoods of people to interact.
"Stakeholders should expect better management of their grievances by using GRM in which they have been trained by the Malawi Human Rights Commission. In turn, this will enhance ownership and total participation in conservation efforts for Nyika and Vwaza Game Reserves," Nxumayo said.
On his part, Traditional Authority (T/A) Karonga stressed the need for the provision of proper incentives to people living around Nyika National Park and Vwaza Game Reserve for them to own the conservation efforts being done in these areas.
MAZA-TFCA project is being implemented through the Ministry of Tourism with funding from the German Government.
Youth club donates learning materials to vulnerable learners
By Wellington Sibale
Neno, February 13, Mana: Tiyanjane Youth Club of Neno has donated learning materials to Chipundu Primary School in the district in a bid to promote quality education for underprivileged learners.
The club, through its member contributions, donated 75 exercise books and 25 pens to 25 learners.
Speaking Tuesday, the club's chairperson, Bright Khungwa, said the donation was meant to promote learner’s education so that they stay in school.
"We have a vision to help learners; we urge them to work hard to fulfil their dreams and become future teachers, advisers and ministers, among others. This will be achieved if they work hard in their education," Khungwa said.
He, therefore, urged other organisations to join the drive to reach out to as many learners as possible in the district.
Tiyanjane Youth Club plans to donate to three other primary schools in the district.
Chipindu School Headteacher, Frank Eliya, observed that many learners lack learning materials at the expense of their pursuit to quality education.
"This is a difficult place; many parents are unemployed and providing for their children’s education is a struggle so having clubs like Tiyanjane will help us to develop future leaders," Eliya said.
He appealed to other stakeholders to help the school as government assistance is not enough to cover needs of the whole school.
Group Village Head Chapita thanked the youth organisation for the gesture saying the donation will help learners in their education.
He lamented that the school does not have adequate shelters for school feeding programme after another collapsed due to heavy rains.
One of the learners, Joshua Chawawa who is in Standard Seven, commended Tiyanjane Youth Club for the gesture saying it was timely and will address some of their educational needs.
Neno District Youth Officer, Ian Sukali, hailed the club's initiative which, he said, is in line with Malawi 2063 and the National Youth Service Programme.
"We want to change the public mindset towards the youth. We want to promote youth patriotism. For a long time, young people have been regarded as less important in society but what Tiyanjane Youth Club has done will help rebrand youth’s image in the district, in particular, and Malawi as a whole," said Sukali.
Chirwa appointed head coach for FOMO FC
By Petro Mkandawire
Blantyre, February 13, Mana: Newly promoted FOMO FC on Tuesday signed Gilbert Chirwa on a one-year contract as their head coach after its former head coach Mapopa Kent Msukwa’s contract ended after the team got promoted to the Malawi’s elite, TNM Super League.
Speaking with Malawi News Agency (MANA), Chirwa was happy to take the team to the promised land of the TNM Super League though, he said, it will be a big challenge to him.
He has since advised the team’s officials to look for experienced players to mix with other players already in the team.
“Those that know me don’t doubt me. I aim to change the complexion of the team; to plant playing mentality in players and introduce a winning formula. I am glad that FOMO has given me this chance to lead them in TNM Super League.
“if we can work together, I believe, the team will have better performance,” said Chirwa.
He said FOMO fans should expect a backroom staff soon as the team is already in search.
Chirwa, a holder of CAF class A license, comes in to replace Msukwa who has a CAF C license, a disqualification from being head coach of a team in the TNM Super League.
FOMO FC General Secretary, Richard Khembo, said the team considered several factors in signing the coach as almost three coaches applied for the job but opted for Chirwa after panel assessment with the overseers.
“We are expecting a lot from the coach. Our conversation with him went well and all he needs is our full support; we know he will deliver. We are ready to do everything that he tells us because he is in charge of knowing the team’s needs and wants for better results,” said Khembo.
He added that they discussed with the new coach areas that should help maintain the team in the elite league as opposed to being relegated.
Khembo was hopeful that the new coach is capable of contributing to the team’s success ahead of the 2024 football season to kick start on April 6.
Chirwa, former Malawi national team player, was with Dedza Dynamos as head coach before moving to Mulanje based FOMO FC.
