Tag Archives: Covid-19 fight

Development, Lifestyle

Mia family donates sewing machines, cloth to the needy in Covid-19 fight drive

Maravi Post Reporter
Gifted hands of Mia Family

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Over 45, 000 needy people who cannot afford to buy face masks will in the next few days receive re-usable face masks, courtesy of the Mia family.

The donation includes 50 sewing machines, 100 rolls of cloth and other materials for sewing of masks.

The Mia family through Elias Karim who is nephew to the late Muhammed Sidik Mia presented the donations to MCP leaders as well as leaders from other political parties.

The donations were made on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 in presence of Abida Mia and other Mia family members.

The leaders who have benefitted from the donations include sitting Members of Parliament (MP), Ward Councillors and also Shadow MP’s from various constituencies and wards in the Southern Region of Malawi.

Speaking as Guest of Honour during the handover ceremony at the Mia residence in Blantyre, Moses Kumkuyu who is MCP National Campaign Director, said the donations come as a response to the recent appeal made by the Malawi leader, Dr Lazarus Chakwera who called upon Malawians to render assistence in the fight against Covid 19.

He said currently, Malawi is under seige from the rising cases of covid 19, hence commended the Mia family for the timely donations.

He emphasized that it was neccessary to equip political leaders with Covid-19 preventive materials as many of the people they lead in their different areas can hardly afford to buy a face mask in order to control the spread of covid 19.

On donating to leaders of other political parties, Kumkuyu who is also Presidential Advisor on Chiefs stressed that Covid 19 does not limit itself to any party colours hence deemed it neccessary to include those from other parties.

The donations, according to the Mia family member Elias Karim, were made in honour of the late Sidik Mia and also in tandem with Islamic religious beliefs of continuing to do good works that benefit mankind after someone close has passed on.

As a matter of impact, it is expected that at the end of the day, grass-root beneficiaries of the face masks would mitigate the spread of Covid-19 and in turn protect themselves

Health

Malawi’s deputy lands minister Abida Mia donates bull for meat to Quech towards Covid-19 fight

Maravi Post Reporter
donated bull to Quech

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-In a quest to assist with food supply towards overwhelmed healthy workers tirelessly assisting Covid-19 patients at Queen Elizabeth hospital in Blantyre, deputy minister of Land Abida Mia donated a bull weighing 400 kilograms to the facility for meat.

Abida Mia, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Chikwawa Nkombezi constituency rendered the aid through the family of Andrew and Della Kulemeka who embarked on the charitable work at the facility of offering free food to healthy workers taking care Covid-19 patients.

This is second support the Mia family has offered to the hospital after a week ago also donated 300 kilograms of rice.

The deputy lands minister said that it was the wish of her late husband Mohammed Sidiki Mia to assist the facility with food items to healthy personnel handling Covid-19 cases up until escalation of the scourge ends hence she is implementing the late husband’s concept.

“After the State president Dr Lazerus McCathy Chakwera declared state of disaster over Covid-19, my family felt to render a helping hand to the facility complimenting government efforts to curb the crisis and at the same time implementing my late husband’s concept of assisting Queen Elizabeth hospital,” says Chikwawa Mkombezi legislator.

The family of Andrew and Della Kulemeka lauded the Mia family for timely support.

“The Mia family has given us brahman bull here at their S & A cold storage weighing 743 kilograms and after slaughtering it, we have realized 400 kilograms of meat to support the healthy personnel , besides that the family gave us 300 kilograms of rice for the same course. We are very thankful for their kindness,” lauded Andrew Kulemeka.

The Kulemeka family commenced the charitable work of preparing food for the healthy workers taking care Covid-19 patients with their MK 1 million to help the overwhelmed personnel.

The family is therefore urging well wishers to emulate the gesture in taking up the challenge to help the facility in one way or the other like the Mia family has demonstrated.

Malawi

Malawi President Chakwera challenged on carelessness approach towards Covid-19 fight

Angella Semu

By Angella Semu

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Civil society leaders have expressed dismay in the carelessness and undemocratic actions by current ruling regime on how they have been handling the novel Coronavirus and various other challenges the nation is encountering.

This was disclosed in a press statement issued on Friday July 17 signed by the civil society leaders including Luther Mambala, Billy Banda,Unandi Banda, Ceaser Kondowe and Philip Kamangirah

In a statement, civil society highlighted how the leaders of the nation had prioritized politics instead of human life by declaring Covid-19 unreal and completely undermined the COVID 19 response strategies that were put in place by the then regime.

The civil society also expressed disbelief in the President’s call for national prayers while his Cabinet Minister has organized a Political rally in Mangochi in order to unveil a candidate following the planned by elections.

The civil society has therefore called upon Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to immediately suspend the by elections as one way of safeguarding Malawians from Covid-19 and has asked for an apology from the current regime to the nation for lack of wisdom and careless remarks on Covid-19.

The civil society leaders have also condemned the ongoing political persecution and witch hunting following the harassing, intimidating, and arresting of people for their political affiliation without enough investigations into the alleged crimes.

The civil society has therefore asked the governing leaders to only arrested and charge people because they committed a crime that can even be proved in a court of law and not because of their political affiliation in order to defend the instituted principles of democracy, justice, inclusive development and security for all Malawians following democratic transition in 1994.

The civil society leaders have also expressed shock with remarks by President Lazarus Chakwera on his 3rd speech on the nation address in which he claimed that all the 26 years of democracy were a rabble.

The leaders have reminded Chakwera that Malawi is a democratic state and no attempt should be made to bring us back into one party system.

The leaders have also condemned the disrespect of the Rule of Law demonstrated by the ruling regime that has been displayed through the dissolution of MERA Board which is against Section 8(1) of the Energy the Regulation Act which states that:
“A member of the Authority shall not be removed from office except for reasons of incompetence or misconduct and only after due inquiry and subject to the approval of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Appointment”.

There was no immediate reaction from President Chakwera’s office on the matter raised.

Business, Development

Airtel Malawi donates MK104m towards Covid-19 fight for Ventilators purchase

Lloyd M’bwana
Phuka receiving a dummy cheque of MK104 million from Kamoto (from left)

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Airtel Malawi Plc on Monday, June 22, 2020 donated MK104m towards the purchase of ventilators in Covid-19 fight.

The development confirms the company’s cordial working relationship with the COVID-19 Presidential taskforce and the Ministry of Health in Malawi.

The support towards the purchase of ventilators will tassist patients and frontline health workers in the battle against COVID-19.

Airtel Managing Director, Charles Kamoto observed that ventilators are essential equipment for patients who need assistance with breathing and are critical aide in assisting patients who may face respiratory challenges.

“Airtel Malawi recognizes that without adequate health equipment, more people will fall ill, reducing the availability of care for patients.

“The ventilators, once purchased by the COVID-19 taskforce, will be officially handed-over by the leading mobile telecom’s provider to a public hospital identified by the taskforce”, says Kamoto.

He added; “Today, we announced our support for Malawi’s COVID-19 response through a contribution of MK104m to go towards the purchase of ventilators for hospitals. Now more than ever, we all need to realize that we are in a period of crisis, and that the health sector and the economy at large, cannot cope alone.

“Now more than ever, the private sector needs to mobilize resources where they can, alongside the government and developmental sector, in order to fight this raging pandemic and reduce its impact”.

Co-Chairperson of the COVID-19 Presidential Taskforce, Dr. John Phuka lauded Airtel for the timely support saying there is still a deficit for Preventive Protective Equipment (PPE)’s and Ventilators required from frontline staff and medical facilities in the country.

“The list of our healthcare requirements is huge, and so this timely support from Airtel demonstrates a real commitment to reduce the gap and support our health facilities and workers in their time of need, who need appropriate medical equipment in their everyday battlesto defeat this pandemic,” said Phuka.

Since March this year, Airtel has rolled out several initiatives to help mitigate the impact of social distancing on its customers during the coronavirus outbreak:

Toll free line 54747 (also known as Chipatala Cha pa Foni) which is run together with the Ministry of Health.

Airtel subscribers can call in to get prevention tips and information on the COVID-19. This service is already live.

Entertainment

Covid-19 fight unites Malawian artists

Maravi Post Reporter
Allan Chirwa

By Taonga Sesani

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi’s Red hot musicians Nepman and Allan Chirwa have joined forces to release a song on Covid-19

Nepman a secular artist and Chirwa a gospel musician are the first such combination and are eager enjoy airplay.

In an interview with Maravi post Allan Chirwa said he was happy to take a role in sensitizing people about the pandemic and at the same time collaborating with other artist

“These are tough times and artists we need to come together and play a part, doesn’t matter whether you are a gospel or secular artist,” he said.

He said artists have also been affected by the pandemic in that they cannot hold live performances but he is happy that artist are able to unite and reach out to people with important message.

The fanana naye hit maker said everyone has a responsibility to make sure that we avoid the virus and we need to speak about.

“We need to speak about the pandemic and follow the preventive measures which have been put in place,”

As artist we have talent and we need to use it to disseminate information about Covid-19,” he said.

The song titled ‘Corona’ is urging people to put our faith in God so that he can heal our land and also emphasizes on the need for hygiene as well as observing social distance.

Other artist who have released Covid-19 songs include Khozie Masimbe, Skeffa Chimoto, Piksy just to mention a few.

Health, Malawi

Malawi President Mutharika swallows pride….Heeds VP Chilima proposals on Covid-19 fight

Maravi Post Reporter
Mutharika swallows pride, heeds VP Chilima proposals on Covid-19 fight

BLANTYRE-(Maravipost)-President Peter Mutharika has taken heed to pleas by Vice President Salous Chilima on Sunday  for the President to constitute an inclusive task force to spearhead the fight against Corornavirus and to put in place measures to caution the poor and vulnerable groups.

Mutharika on Tuesday delivered a national address in the cover of the night where he announced that he was reconstitution the ministerial commitee and create a presidentail taskforce that will include Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Public Affairs Committee (PAC), medical experts, professionals and other stakeholders.

This was in direct response to Chilima’s plea on Sunday for Mutharika to establish an inclusive taskfore that will gain trust from Malawians in the fight against Coronavirus and use of resources.

“President Mutharika should, for once, demostrate leadership by  inviting opposition leaders, civil society leaders, religious leaders, captains of the industry and even celebrities to be part of the national response,” said Chilima on Sunday in a live televised national address.

Chilima had also said the inclusive taskforce was very crucial at this stage as it is clear that majority of Malawians are not trusting information on Covid-19 from government officials which is undermining efforts to fight the pandemic.

” It is clear to everyone that government faces serious deficit of trust among majority of Malawians. The public reaction to information from the government on covid-19 proves one key thing-the public does not recognise the current leadership as a credible source of information,” Chilima lamented.

He said the loss of trust hampers governmentts efforts to fight the pandemic as people can not cooperate and this leads to people ignoring measures to combact the pandemic.

Mutharika has also taken heed to Chilima’s call to put in place measures to caution the poor and the vulnerable before any drastic measures such as lockdown are implemented to combat the convid-19 pandemic.

“Locking people away from their homes without clear and deliberate public health strategy for steering the lockdown is condeminng them to hunger. Majority of people would not sustain themselves during lockdown ,” said Chilima.

Mutharika announced that his government will scale up the social cash transfer programme to target 172,000 poor and vulnerable households who will receive K35,000 per month.

Chilima has received praises by the public for his pro-active role to outline measures that would help the fight against Covid-19 and proposals to government to create an all inclusive taskforce, which Mutharika and his government has taken into account.

Mutharika’s last night address was meant to water down an allowance scandal that broke out on Monday where his cabinet ministers are said to be drawing K450,000 per day and MPs K350,000 for doing coronavirus work.

The scandal broke out despite earlier refutals by Information Minister Mark Botoman and Health Minister Jappie Mtuwa Mhango that the ministers were not receiving any allowance.

A video clip has gone viral where Botoman and Mhango are shamelessly conniving to put a spin to the allowance scandal.

Development, Health

Kenyan media houses offer Ksh10 Million’s ad space, airtime on Covid-19 fight

Angella Semu
Royal Media Services Managing Director Wachira Waruru, after his election as the chairperson of Media Owners Association on April 27, 2018.
DAILY NATION

NAIROBI-(MaraviPost)-Kenyan Media houses have donated a total sum of Ksh150 Million towards the fight against the novel coronavirus in the country.

Media Owners Association (MOA) chairman, Wachira Waruru disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday 21 April, 2020.

According to Waruru, the association consist of 15 media houses and they have agreed to donate Ksh10 million each in the form of advertisements to drive awareness campaigns aimed at curbing the spread of the pandemic.

Waruru has been quoted by Citizen TV saying: “The Kenyan media has been at the forefront of reporting about COVID-19 and driving public awareness campaigns aimed at curbing the spread of the pandemic.

“The campaigns have mainly consisted of content generated by individual media houses and public service announcements carried in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Communications Authority (CA)”.

The COVID-19 emergency Fund that was formulated by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday, April 1, has disclosed that it has also raised a sum of Ksh 1.2billion so far and it will fully utilize the contribution made by media houses in the country.

Some of the Media houses that have contributed toward the fight against the pandemic are Royal Media Services Limited, Standard Group PLC, Nation Media Group, Capital Group Limited, Ebru Africa Limited, Family Media Limited, Kass Media Group Limited, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, Media 7 Group, MediaMax Network Limited, Radio 44, Radio Africa Group, Switch TV, Three Stones Media Limited and TV 47.

Kenya has a total of 296 recorded cases with 14 reported deaths as of 21 April, 2020.