Tag Archives: Malawi Red Cross

Development

Malawi Red Cross tips journalists on Covid-19 fight

Maravi Post Reporter
Malawi Red Cross train journalists on Covid-19 fight

By Lusekero Mhango

KARONGA-(MaraviPost)-As thousands of people fall susceptible to the Corona Virus Pandemic across the globe Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) has underscored the importance media practitioners play in disseminating correct information to communities about COVID-19 saying their involvement is key to winning against the Pandemic.

The call come as Malawi continue to register a decline in COVID-19 cases with Karonga District which so far has registered 83 cases and 4 fatalities going since the 27th of August without recording a single case of the virus.

Speaking in an interview following a two day workshop on COVID-19 that the Karonga Press Club (KPC) organized in partnership with MRCS Blessings Mlowoka District Coordinator for Karonga, said Malawi Red Cross recognizes the critical role that the media has to play in managing the Corona Virus situation hence the engagement with members of the KPC.

He noted, one important tool in preventing the spread of the virus is awareness of the prevention measures and the media has an important role in achieving that.

“Regardless that we are registering a low number of cases this is the time to intensify awareness campaigns so that we continue to maintain the prevention measures so by equipping the media with the correct information we are very sure that people will be in a better position to get the appropriate information that will contribute positively towards prevention and control of the virus,” he explained.

Director for Health and Social Services for Karonga David Sibale, urged people of Karonga not to start relaxing despite the district not registering a Corona Virus case since August.

“The fact that we have not registered a case in the district since august does not mean that people should start relaxing and stop following the set guidelines of wearing a mask and washing hands among others as the virus is still amidst us and has not gone away,” he warned.

Andrew Mkonda District Information Officer (DIO) who is also the KPC chairperson, expressed gratitude to Red Cross for seeing it fit to equip the media on the COVID-19 Pandemic.

He said,the orientation was an eye opener as the members are now better equipped with information about Corona Virus.

“As media practitioners who reside in Karonga a bordering district its people are at most risk of the virus but through the training we are now better placed to relay the information to communities out there thus reducing the risks of catching COVID-19,” he articulated.

With Financial assistance from Irelish Aid and UNICEF, Malawi RED Cross Society have been implementing COVID-19 interventions which include screening at the borders and door to door awareness campaigns on the pandemic among others.

Development, Malawi

Karonga flood victims shun Malawi Red Cross relief items…..Opt for Salvation Army’s maize donation

Maravi Post Reporter
Karonga flood victims opt for Salvation Army’s maize donation against Malawi Red Cross relief items

KARONGA-(MaraviPost)-There was drama at Zindi Evacuation Camp in the area area of traditional authority (T/A) Kalonga in Karonga district on Tuesday after the Salvation Army and the Malawi Redcross Society collided at the camp with their relief items for the flood victims.

Earlier on Tuesday morning, a team of Salvation Army led by their Chief Secretary, Lieutenant Cornel Alfred Banda and the district’s programs manager, Matthews Tulombolombo stormed the camp with various relief items like bags of maize, beans and cooking oil worth millions of kwachas.

According to acting senior group village head (SGVH) Zindi, the camp has over 400 households who are affected by heavy floods which occurred on 2nd March that led to destruction of their houses and food items.

SGVH Zindi expressed gratitude towards the religious institution for the kitchen nd gesture showcased to his subjects who were hit by the floods and pleaded for the beneficiaries to make good use of the relief items by desisting from selling them.

The Salvation Army distributed at least two tins of maize, two liters of cooking oil and five kilograms of beans to each the 400 households at the evacuation camp.

“Let me urge you all that these food staff’s are not for sale because you have received them for free hence they are for your family’s consumption,” Said Banda.

However, while in the process of distribution of the relief food items, a team of Redcross suddenly also arrived at the camp with about twelve bales of chipeloni blankets and cooking pots to distribute to the 400 victims.

After noticing that the Salvation Army had too many bags of maize, beans and cooking oil that would take about two hours to distribute to the victims, the Malawi Redcross through their public relations officer, Felix Washoni asked the Salvation Army to interrupt their distribution exercise.

Washoni there asked Salvation Army to give them time to distribute their few blankets and pots to the victims that they should leave the place in good time a scenario.

This angered Tulombolombo of the Salvation Army who furiously refused to bow to their plea.

“This is not a competition, it is a charity work and you have found us at the camp distributing our items so why can’t you just wait for us to finish our already started work? What you are doing is a clear indication that you are proud of yourself,” said the seemingly angry Tulombolombo.

Tulombolombo further came to a resolution that he put on hold the distribution exercise until the next day to pave way for their counterparts.

The situation that angered the beneficiaries who in turn opted for the food items to the empty Redcross pots and blankets.

Speaking to one of the victims (name withheld), said, “we better receive the food items first than blankets because we have nothing to eat so for us to wait until tomorrow (Wednesday) will not be good for us because we have already starved enough, it is better than the Redcross should wait until we are done receiving the food.”

“We are disappointed in the Salvation Army for negative conduct towards us, we did not expect you to behave that way because we would have just combined our items and distribute them together,” Said Redcross PRO Washoni in anger.

Although the did not hold water as the salvation army vehemently refused which eventually made the beneficiaries to concentrate on the distribution of the food items by the religious institution turning their heads against the Redcross.

Human Rights, Lifestyle

Malawi Red Cross Society launches Japanese blankets for Africa campaign

Malawi News Agency (MANA)

Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) on Friday launched the 2018 Japanese Blankets for Africa Campaign (JBAC) which is aimed at helping the needy with blankets during the winter season.

Speaking during the launch in the area of Traditional Authority Mchiramwera in Thyolo MRCS President Levison Changole said the campaign targets orphans and the aged to live a better life in their rural setting.

“This is in line with the organization’s mission of alleviating human suffering and improving the quality of life of the vulnerable through relief, development and dissemination of its fundamental principles,” Changole said.

“Malawi Red Cross Society thought it wise to distribute the blankets to the needy especially as we are moving into the cold season,” he added.

The MRCS President pointed out that the campaign is carried out annually and has been undertaken for the past 23 years in all the districts in the country.

“We have distributed over 304, 850 blankets in Malawi since the initiative started,” Changole emphasized.

Changole, therefore, urged beneficiaries of the blankets not to sell the items but instead use them for their own warmth in the winter.

Speaking earlier, Traditional Authority Mchiramwera thanked MRCS for targeting Thyolo district and his area in particular with the blankets, which he said, would greatly help the needy during the cold season.

“We’ve a lot of orphans in our communities due to HIV and Aids. They need this support for their survival. We are very grateful for the donation,” Mchiramwera said.

One of the beneficiaries, Agness Nyambalo, said the blankets had come at the right when the biting weather was slowly setting in.
“This donation will help us this time when it is very cold in Thyolo,” Nyambalo said.

MRCS distributed 583 blankets at the function and the organization is set to make similar donations in all 33 divisions it operates across the country.

Environment, Top News

Hailstorm devastates Mwanza district

Maravi Post Reporter

MWANZA-(MaraviPost)-About 70 households in the areas of Senior Chief Kanduku and Traditional Authority (T/A) Nthache in Mwanza are in dire need of food and shelter after hailstorms left them destitute.

Mwanza District Disaster Risk Management Desk Officer Drake Chiningwa says a two-year-old boy has been hospitalized at the district hospital after a tree fell on him.

The boy’s mother, Maria Malunga, sustained minor injuries.

Chiningwa told Maravi Post that figures of the affected people may rise, saying a full report will be ready by close of business Wednesday.

He said houses and other institutions were affected in group village Mchotseni of Senior Chief Kanduku and Kagonemwake of T/A Nthache in Mwanza central and Mwanza west constituencies respectively.

Senior chief Kanduku says the victims need urgent assistance as they have been homeless since Saturday when the accident occurred.

Senior Chief Kanduku said though the assessment on the damage is still ongoing, the victims need urgent assistance.

He called upon government, civil society organizations and other well-wishers to come in and assist the victims.

Meanwhile, Chikwawa and Nsanje are likely to face heavy flooding as the Shire River has already had its banks and surrounding areas flooded.

The rains from upland have caused the river to flood, damaging crops on a large cultivation area.

The Malawi Red Cross has therefore asked communities living in flood prone areas to move to safer places.

In a related development, torrential rains, accompanied by heavy winds, on Tuesday destroyed houses, rendering scores of people destitute in Mzuzu. Authorities say they are still assessing the damage.