MANAonline
DMPA-SC guidelines to improve comprehensive productive health coverage
By Petro Mkandawire
Blantyre, February 27, Mana: Blantyre District Commissioner (DC) Alex Mdooko has said collaboration between private health facilities and the local government through Subcutaneous Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA-SC) guidelines will reduce the prevalence of unintended teenage pregnancies, improve comprehensive productive health coverage and that individuals will learn self-care through injectable contraceptives.
Mdooko made the remarks on Monday at Lighthouse in Blantyre during the official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and introduction of DMPA-SC guidelines which aimed at addressing universal health coverage, especially on family planning and increased contraceptive uptake among women.
The DC said the private health sector plays a great role in supporting communities with health care services, adding this was why Ministry of Health, through the Reproductive Health Directorate, engages private pharmacies, clinics, and medicine stores to contribute towards family planning by having easy access contraceptives to improve quality life in families.
“More than 40% of services are provided by the private sector in the areas of maternal, neonatal and child health, family planning, malaria and nutrition. Increase of family planning methods through private facilities leads to improvement in health of mothers, children and the status of women,” added Mdooko.
He disclosed that Malawi National DMPA-SC guidelines for private facilities will contribute to a bundle of knowledge and key direction on various contraceptive methods, as individuals will be able to self-administer themselves.
Speaking during the ceremony, representative of Pharma plus Pharmacy, Blessings Gondwe, said promotion of self-care can improve people's informed decisions about health services, adding that self-care has the potential to address unmet needs of family planning, contraceptive use, HIV testing, and other health needs.
“Through this collaboration, we will make sure that our entities apply the guidelines and abide by the direction provided by the Ministry of Health and we will work together with much effort to improve reproductive health coverage,” said Gondwe.
In his remarks, Deputy Director of Reproductive Health Dr. Owen Chikhwaza said through DMPA-SC guidelines, women will be able to inject themselves with Sayana Press in their homes, as the directorate intensify supervision of all private facilities to ensure that the products are available in all health corners.
“Women will be trained on how to administer themselves through HAS. We are committed to ensure that communities attain the highest possible level of health and quality of life and we don’t want cost to be the barrier to access these services,” said Chikhwaza.
DMPA-SC is an effective form of hormonal contraception administered via intramuscular injection.
Chikwawa District Council rewards best performing teachers, schools and PEAs
By Leah Malimbasa
Chikwawa, February 27, Mana: Chikwawa District Council on Monday awarded best performing teachers, schools and Primary Education Advisors (PEAs) for their outstanding contributions for the 2023 Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) examinations.
Minister of Water and Sanitation Abida Mia, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for Chikwawa Mkombezi, graced the event at Chikwawa Secondary School Hall and said government was commitment to improve quality education in the country.
“Government’s desire is to inspire teachers to work diligently towards improving education standards. All we need is collective efforts because this can only be achieved if we work together,” she added.
The minister went on to share the government's ambitious plans for the education sector to improve.
“President Lazarus Chakwera has pledged to construct 3,108 classrooms, 243 toilets, and ICT Centre’s in the district this year. This highlights government's commitment to infrastructural development aimed at creating a conducive learning environment,” she said.
Acknowledging the significance of local initiatives, Mia also mentioned that the increment of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to K200 million will enable MPs to construct additional classrooms in their respective constituencies.
In his remarks, District Commissioner for Chikwawa, Nardin Kamba, expressed gratitude to the minister for gracing the occasion, saying her presence testified significance of collective commitment to education in Chikwawa.
“We, as a council, have set a bold challenge for the district's education sector to ascend from our current position 24 in the 2023 PSLCE rankings and go up the top 10 best-performing districts nationally. Together we can turn this vision into reality.
“In the journey towards progress, it's imperative to recognize that the development of nations begins with a strong foundation in education, so our commitment to this cause is paramount for the prosperity of our district and the nation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Paramount Chief Lundu has requested that teachers’ welfare should be prioritized, emphasizing the need to increase teacher salaries.
Mia has assured the Paramount Chief that she will deliver the message to the Minister of Education and advocate for better remuneration the teachers.
Some of the categories for the awards included best performing schools with most students selected to national secondary schools where Nchalo CCAP Primary School scooped first position and best performing head teacher with highest A grades during 2023 PSLCE examinations, which was also won by head teacher for Nchalo CCAP Primary School, Alice Dinda.
The awardees received cash, certificates of recognition and trophies.
Nkhata Bay farmers excel with AGCOM project grants
By Yamikani Sabola
Mzuzu, February 27, Mana: Farmers’ cooperatives in Nkhata Bay District which benefitted in phase one of Agriculture Commercialization (AGCOM) project have hailed the project for boosting their agricultural production through provision of grants.
Speaking on Monday when Minister of Agriculture visited the district to appreciate how the cooperatives have utilized AGCOM grants, chairperson for Toweca Producers and Marketing Cooperative Society, Robson Munyenyembe, said they used part of the grants to procure a tractor, plough, ridge and planter.
Munyenyembe said with the modern implements, their farm operations have been mechanized, enabling them to increase land for soya beans production to 30 hectares this year, from nine hectares last year.
“AGCOM gave us K82 million grants which came in two tranches. We used money received in the first tranche to buy a tractor, plough, ridge and planter at a total cost of K60 million. We also used grants received in the second tranche to build a big warehouse for storage of our soya beans harvests,” he said.
Secretary for Mtoto Poultry Cooperative and Bee Keeping, Dorothy Mzumara, said their cooperative received K30 million grants which they used to buy a two-ton lorry, gas heater and solar panels for use on their poultry farm.
Mzumara however complained about lack of market for their chickens and asked government to protect small holder broiler chicken farmers from big companies which she accused of monopolizing the business.
“There are big companies which sell us broiler chicks, chicken feed and other materials required for broiler chicken production. However, the same companies are also getting involved in growing broiler chickens which they are supplying even in rural markets at cheaper prices which we cannot compete with,” she said.
In his remarks, Kawale promised that his ministry is going to engage Competitions and Fair Trading Commission and Ministry of Trade on the issue of alleged monopolistic tendencies by chicken feed manufacturing companies.
Kawale added that he was impressed that more women and young people were actively taking part in the project and transforming their livelihoods economically.
AGCOM is a government project which aims at transforming small holder agriculture from mostly subsistence to commercial.
Poor targeting issues dent safety net programmes
By Robert Katuli
Lilongwe, February 27, Mana: A study conducted by Mwapata Institute has shown that more non-poor households in the country benefit more from social safety net programmes than the deserving poor households.
This was disclosed Monday in Lilongwe during a media briefing which Mwapata Institute organized on social protection programmes and climate resilience in Malawi.
In an interview, Research Director for Mwapata Institute, Professor Levison Chiwaula, said the Institute conducted the study after observing that the country has been experiencing multiple shocks over the past years.
“We wanted to know how resilient are the households; how are they able to take care of themselves in such a situation of shocks and risks.
“One thing we noted is that the households that were in, for example, social safety net programmes, when hit with the shocks, these households most of the times were able to come back to their normal life levels so quickly than those households not on social protection programmes,” said Chiwaula.
He added that although the program may have been effective in making sure households are cushioned from shocks and risks, the poor targeting issues need to be addressed, as, apart from the concern about non-poor households benefiting at the expense of poor households, some also benefited from more than one safety net programme.
“There is lack of coordination when it comes to post-disaster response. Different agencies implement different programmes; at the end you find that some individuals receive more support, and others don't.
“We noted that some households receive multiple social protection programmes while others don't receive any even though they qualify to be supported,” Chiwaula explained.
In addition to the targeting issues, the study also recommends that the amount of money in programmes such as cash transfers should be increased in order to increase the benefits.
Chiwaula, therefore, thanked government for its intention to increase the amount of money provided through cash transfers, saying this will help a lot.
In his presentation, Mwapata Institute Research Fellow, Dr Anderson Gondwe, concurred with Chiwaula, saying there is need to strengthen the social protection programmes, which have proved crucial in supporting households during disasters.
He said households’ food security and resilience capacity have improved with the safety net programmes, adding that cash transfers, among other initiatives, have had a positive impact on resilience and food consumption status.
Apart from cash transfers, other social safety nets the study focused on include food/cash for work initiative, school feeding programme, and supplementary feeding programme, just to mention a few.
Mwapata Institute, an agricultural policy think-tank, conducted the study between 2010 and 2020, with support from the Irish Embassy.
Parliamentary aspirant leads businesspersons in a clean up exercise
By Winfrida Kamwana
Mchinji, February 26, Mana: Shadow Member of Parliament (MP) for Mchinji West Constituency, Dr John Paul, has called upon Mchinji citizens, especially those conducting their businesses in the main market, to always observe hygiene as a way of keeping the district clean.
The call was made during a clean-up exercise introduced by the shadow MP which partly serves as a continuation of the clean-up exercise that President Lazarus Chakwera launched in the country.
“Introducing this clean-up exercise is one way of reminding people that no one will come to take care of our surroundings except us; thus there is need to take ownership and responsibility by making sure we are living in a hygienic environment,” he explained.
He stated that people need to take extra care because the district is close to Zambia which is battling Cholera at the moment and leaving garbage in the streets without properly disposing it exposes people to such diseases.
Chairperson for Mchinji Market, Petulo Njolomole, said this exercise will help keep their business places clean and attractive to customers.
“We appreciate this exercise because not only will it help keep our surrounding clean but also help us understand the role of taking ownership and taking responsibility in handling hygiene issues in the market,” said Njolomole.
Njolomole appreciated Paul for providing them with 20 bins stating that these will be placed in the right places.
He, therefore, urged people to use them and not litter anyhow.
The clean-up exercise will take place around Mchinji market for not less than five days and some of the youths from Traditional Authority Nyoka, Zulu and Mlonyeni have joined the exercise.
Government urges collaborative efforts in tree management
By Golden Kang’oma
Salima, February 26, Mana: Minister of Tourism, Vera Kamtukule, has called for collaborative efforts by different stakeholders in making sure that trees planted during the National Forestry Season survive and conservation initiatives put in place.
Kamtukule made the call on Monday during a tree planting exercise at Maganga Tourism Public Beach and Integrated Resort in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Maganga in Salima.
She said authorities should not plant trees just to tick a box but to make sure that all the planted trees are taken care of and its purpose fulfilled.
“Mostly when trees are planted we divert our attention to some other things instead of the planted trees. What we want is to take responsibility of ensuring that all trees planted survive,” said Kamtukule.
Kamtukule disclosed that her ministry plans to plant 10,000 trees at the resort which requires support from different stakeholders.
“The ministry alone cannot achieve this without stakeholders. It is my plea that we should all take charge and full responsibility of the trees we are planting,” she said.
District Commissioner for Salima, James Mwenda, said the tree planting exercise will change the landscape of the resort as well as help in climate smart initiatives.
“As a district council, we are excited with the initiative as it will go a long way in conserving the environment and marking the territories of the resort,” he said.
Mwenda said it is exciting that youth are actively involved in the exercise which highlights sustainability and a good succession plan.
TA Maganga said she will ensure that the planted trees are well taken care of, and more are planted.
Nyambadwe United reaches out to people with relief food
By Memory Khutuliwa
Blantyre, February 26, Mana; Nyambadwe United Football Club has distributed assorted food items worth K1.3 million to about 100 households in Traditional Authority (TA) Nkanda in Mulanje whose food supplies were affected by Tropical Cyclone Freddy.
In an interview, Nyambadwe United Football Club Director, Tony Fletcher, said the team decided to reach out to the affected households with maize flour, beans, cooking oil, sugar, soya and tablets of soap after an appeal from Pastor Brian Chisale of Evangelical Church from Nkanda area who felt the need for urgent relief food.
Recently the Division 1, Nyambadwe United distributed 5,000 note books to needy learners at Nyambadwe Primary and Community Day Secondary School.
One of the beneficiaries at Nkanda area, Alex Manda was grateful for the assistance.
“I had nothing to eat in my house; it was difficult for me to feed my children who mostly fail to go to school due to hunger. This assistance has come at a right time,” said Manda.
Each household received one bag of maize flour weighing 25 kilogrammes, a bottle of cooking oil, a packet of sugar and beans among others items.
Chakwera impressed with bible school’s integrated curriculum
By Kondwani Magombo
Lilongwe, February 26, Mana: Malawi Assemblies of God pastor, Nickie Chakwera, has hailed International New Creation (INC) Bible School for including vocational skills on its curriculum saying, while it is a biblical right for men and women of the pulpit to "eat from the church", it doesn't stop them from having a side occupation.
Chakwera made the remarks on Saturday in Lilongwe when he presided over the graduation of at least 16 pastors who have undergone a three-year training in theological studies and vocational skills at the Lilongwe based bible school, which was founded by a U.S missionary, Lucas House.
Chakwera said by including vocational skills on its curriculum, the bible school has positioned itself way ahead of the rest of the theological colleges in Malawi that are yet to consider taking vocational skills on board.
He said it is a commendable practice for a minister of the Word of God to be economically independent through the works of their hands, quoting the book of Acts 20:34.
Chakwera said: “Theologically, it is important: when you look at the men of God in the bible, they were productive. For instance, Apostle Paul was a tent maker and he said ‘with my own hands I have worked and I have produced for my own needs and the needs of my team’ – that sets a good example.
“Practically, it is also important: even though pastors have a biblical right to be supported materially by those that they feed spiritually, it gives the pastor much more freedom when they can produce and make their own money as well and support themselves, and the work of God.”
He noted that, already, there are a number of pastors in the country who use their own money to run the church because they are able to produce for themselves.
NIC Bible School Director, Pastor Lucas House, concurred with Chakwera, saying the theological institution’s teachings are modeled after Apostle Paul’s life.
House said he founded INC Bible School to fulfill God’s call to train pastors who are ministering in rural areas where congregants may not be able to give full support.
“We want to train those pastors so that they can support themselves, and also to teach them that it’s okay for pastors to do something else for a living, other than relying on the church,” said House.
INC Bible School opened in 2019 in Lilongwe, Malawi, and the Class of 2024 has graduated four pastors with certificates and 12 pastors with diplomas.
One of the diploma graduates, Madalitso Zakaria, of Malawi Assemblies of God in Nkanda, Mchinji, could not hide his excitement, saying “it has always been God”.
“I’m very happy that I have finally graduated after COVID-19 posed as a big threat to the future of our studies, let alone our lives,” said Zakaria.
Priest challenges catholic men to be ‘evangelists’
By Arnold Namanja
Blantyre, February 26, Mana; Catholic Men Association (CMA) formerly Catholic Men Organization at Saints Peter and Paul (Chilobwe) Parish under the Archdiocese of Blantyre have been challenged to remain active participants in the evangelization and growth of the church.
Fr. George Chatsira of Pius V11 Seminary in Nguludi gave the challenge on Saturday when he conducted a Lenten season recollection for the CMA at the parish under the theme; ‘Encountering World Beasts and Angels,’ drawn from Mark 1 verse 13.
Chatsira observed that men have a huge responsibility in the church because of their physical as well as social status which puts them in a better position to be evangelists and help the church grow both in numbers and in faith.
“Catholic men are being called upon to preach the word of God and be torch bearers in the world by living an exemplary life as set by Joseph who was very courageous in raising Christ despite facing all sorts of apprehension,” Fr. Chatsira said.
He said world beasts in the scripture represented the many challenges people encounter in their day to day life while the angels stand for the protection that people get from worldly dangers.
“It is important to appreciate that Christ understands our worldly challenges because he himself was also put to the test by Satan when he was in the desert to pray. God does not forsake anyone despite our inequities,” Chatsira said.
Fr. Chatsira encouraged catholic faithful to propagate the message of hope during the Lenten season adding that whatever gifts Christians receive from God were supposed to transcend to others less privileged since as beneficiaries ‘we were only a means to reach out to others.’
He encouraged Christians to embrace three pillars of Lenten season which include; fasting, almsgiving and steadfast prayer in order for this year’s season to be significant.
On a different note, Fr. Chatsira advised the CMA to take an active role in environmental management, noting that climate change was real as manifested by cyclones and drought experienced during this year’s rainy season.
“In the past, deforestation and global warming were things that were very distant to us and we thought it is only a concern for western countries. However, we have now started feeling the effects of climate change which calls for our vigilance in conserving the environment by planting more trees,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the parish executive CMA, Innocent Namwiri, commended the pastoral team at the parish for considering spiritual retreats as one way of reviving congregants’ connection with God.
Namwiri observed that the spiritual recollections were important since they are seasonal-oriented, citing the previous one held in December during Advent in anticipation of Christmas and in preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
He, therefore, thanked Fr. Chatsira for moderating the retreat despite his busy schedules at the seminary. Namawiri also commended the CMA members for dedicating their time to the event.
According to Patrick Magombo, Chilobwe Parish catechist, the retreat was aimed at deepening the spiritual connection among the faithful in anticipation of Easter.
Magombo disclosed that the parish has organized a number of retreats for various associations in the church such as the choir council, catholic women association and the youth considering each one of them has its own roles and responsibilities in the church.
As Christians, Catholics in particular, entered the third week of Lent which is solemn Christian religious observance in the liturgical year commemorating 40 days Jesus Christ spent fasting in the wilderness and enduring temptation by Satan.
Maskal, Malinga to perform under Chitoliro Concept
By Petro Mkandawire
Blantyre, February 26, Mana: In a rise combination of Afro-R&B singer “Udalire” hit maker, Maskal, and multi-award-winning dancehall artist, Malinga Mafia, will perform at Mibawa Multipurpose Hall in Blantyre on March 2 in a show dubbed ‘Chitoliro Concert’.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Sunday, Chitoliro Executive Director, Ken Zizwa, said the show will bring in many value additions to the music industry.
He added that the show will be a farewell celebration of Maskal as this will be his last performance before returning to the United States of America.
“The show will elevate dancehall genre in Malawi and will bring two of its special talents in Malawi. Let people come in large numbers because we are well prepared to give the best entertainment,” said Zizwa.
He disclosed that all artists have prepared intensely for the show which will be live on Mibawa Television to allow audience across the country to enjoy the show.
Chitoliro Concert, a relatively new creative concept in the music and entertainment industry in the country, is the first series of concerts from Chitoliro Productionz this year.
The concert is a collaboration between Chitoliro Productionz and Mibawa Television with support from WS Bet, a leading betting company in Malawi.
In separate interview, Malinga Mafia, confirmed the performance saying being the first time this year to perform in Blantyre, he was expecting music and entertainment lovers to patronize the show in large numbers.
“I can’t wait to see you people in Blantyre on March 2. I will remind music lovers of good old days on stage with Maskal and l will perform with energy,” said Malinga.
One of Afro R&B lover, Jane Ndovi, is looking forward to see a brilliant and energetic performance saying Maskal and Malinga combination was a rare stage performance.
“I am expecting that Maskal and Malinga Mafia will do an energetic performance. I can say the combination will be brilliant and I hope we will get full pack entertainment,” she said.
