Tag Archives: Malawi’s Covid-19 fight

Health

Malawi’s Prophet Gondwe urges Tonse admin to engage more private hospitals on Covid-19 fight

Lloyd M’bwana
Prophet Gondwe- Engage more private hospitals on Covid-19 fight

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-One of the country’s celebrated and humble men of God, Prophet Patson Gondwe who is also Good News Ministries’ leader on Sunday, January 24, 2021 used live stream services in urging President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse administration to engage more private health facilities in fight against Covid-19 spike.

Prophet Gondwe observes that if more private hospitals are engaged the nation will be able to contain the virus.

The man of God therefore encouraged Malawians to share messages of hope on various social media on Covid-19 unlike the current trend of deaths threats reporting.

“Obviously the infection rates will continue to grow in the few coming weeks and months but we will experience a lot of healing as well. People are dying more of fear which is triggering other illnesses like diabetes & High blood pressure.

“When the virus attacks, do not be afraid. The fear is more destructive than the virus. Is survives on fear. We must fight fear by positive communication and reporting. Lets focus more on the recoveries and share the testimonies,” he urges.

Prophet Gondwe urges, “Please, my government engage the private health services sector more vigilantly. Private health institutions must be engaged to take up testing and management of the pandemic as cases will continue to rise and the public facilities will be overwhelmed

“May the government through the ministry of Health engage the private health facilities to integrate the pandemic response in their service delivery.
Let them join in the testing and management of patients”.

There are a few private health facilities advancing on Covid-19 fight which is putting much pressure on public hospitals.

Prophet Gondwe’s Good News Ministries 2021 theme is titled, “A Year of New Heart”, that calls the nation to embrace new begging for spiritual and physical realm.

Development

Persons with disabilities bemoan exclusiveness in Malawi’s Covid-19 fight

Maravi Post Reporter

By Lusekero Mhango

KARONGA-(MaraviPost)-Persons living with disabilities in Karonga have cried foul over the continued side-lining of people with disabilities by authorities in COVID-19 related committees and activities in the district.

The concern follows revelations from Federation for Disability Organizations of Malawi (FEDOMA (Karonga Chapter and Karonga for the Blind who claimed that their members are yet to receive any formal orientations on COVID-19 prevention measures by stakeholders fighting Coronavirus in the district.

Speaking in an interview Noah Simwaka FEDOMA Chairperson for Karonga, said it is unfortunate that despite Malawi being in amidst the Pandemic people with disabilities are yet to be reached with information on how they can protect themselves from catching the deadly virus.

“As much as we are aware that the virus has affected all of society and their livelihood but we people living with disabilities have it worse as our lives have completely ground to a halt as due to our disabilities we are stationed home unable to go out to conduct our businesses as people are afraid to assist us to hold our hands or help to push our wheel chairs due to fear of contracting the virus,” he lamented.

Furthermore Simwaka, bemoaned the continued lack of representation of persons with disabilities in COVID-19 committees saying the vice is retrogressive in the fight for equality and inclusion of persons with disabilities in decision-making positions.

John Mwambiyale chairperson for karonga for the blind, said it was disheartening to note that able bodied persons had undergone formal orientations on how they can protect themselves from catching the virus but persons with disabilities had not.

“Most of our members reside in the rural areas and have no form of a radio thus miss out on COVID-19 information and messages hence our appeal to Government and other stakeholders for formal training to our members because they are also Malawian and deserve access to information on how they can protect themselves during this pandemic,” he said.

Reacting to the outcries District Environmental Health Officer (DEHO)  for Karonga, Lewis Tukula, said while there was no special program arranged to include persons with disabilities in the outreach programs of COVID-19 however it came out as a need in the comprehensive planning in the next phase.

Adding, that despite there not being a time scale on when they will reach out to persons with disabilities but plans are already in motion for the activities.

As of June 4, 2020, Malawi had 393 Corona Virus cases with 41 recoveries and four fatalities.