Tag Archives: Society of Medical Doctors in Malawi

Health

Malawi’s Medical Doctors embarks on campaign to dispel myths about Covid-19 vaccines

Maneno Chimulala 1 Comment
Malawi’s Medical Doctors embarks on campaign to dispel myths about Covid-19 vaccines

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—In a bid to woo more Malawians to get vaccinated against Covid-19 epidemic, the Society of Medical Doctors in Malawi has launched a six-month campaign aimed at engaging community members to dispel myths and misconceptions about Covid-19 vaccines.

President for the society, Dr. Victor Mithi, said they have joined the fight after realizing that people, especially in rural settings, show little interest to get vaccinated, a thing he said is frustrating efforts to contain the virus.

Speaking when he launched the initiative in Mchinji yesterday, Dr. Mithi said they intend to closely work with community influencers including religious leaders, chiefs, politicians and community radio stations to ensure they have correct information about Covid-19 and encourage people to get vaccinated.

Malawi became the first country to publicly incinerate expired doses of the AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccines.

The World Health Organization initially urged countries not to destroy expired doses but has now changed its advice.

Uptake of the vaccine in Malawi has been low and health experts hope the move taken by the Society of Medical Doctors will increase arouse people’s interest to get vaccinated.

Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 59,399 cases including 2,059 deaths (Case Fatality Rate is at 3.47%). Of these cases, 2,600 are imported infections and 56,799 are locally transmitted. Cumulatively, 45,396 cases have now recovered (recovery rate of 76.4%) and 232 were lost to follow-up. This brings the total number of active cases to 11,712.

On COVID-19 vaccination, a total of 826,184 vaccine doses has been administered in the country so far. Cumulatively 466,948 and 191,901 people have received the first dose and second dose of AstraZeneca vaccine respectively while 167,335 people have received Johnson and Johnson vaccine. 

Malawi

Malawi health system not ready to fight Covid 19

Richard Kayenda 2 Comments

Written by Richard Kayenda

Dr. Amos Nyaka

It is now not a secret that Malawi’s health system is far from being ready to put Corona Virus to sleep should the situation slip out of hand.

According to the former President of the Society of Medical Doctors (SMD) in the country, Dr Amos Nyaka, Malawi’s health system does not have enough equipment and personnel who are specially trained to treat patients suffering from Covid 19.

While speaking to one of the radio stations on Sunday, Dr Nyaka said since the inception of the Pandemic in December last year, it is only three medical doctors who were sent abroad to undergo a special training on how to tackle Covid 19.

Dr Nyaka, who on Saturday resigned from his position as the president of SMD, did not mince any words, but to say that the risk allowances for health workers that the Head of State announced to have been increased is not even enough; considering the nature of the job of health workers.

Dr Nyaka said if Malawi is to win the battle of fighting Covid 19, there is need for the government to equip all the hospitals in the country with enough personal protective equipment and also to motivate the health care workers with better risk allowances. He also hinted that the government needs to isolate all the elderlies who are sixty years old or above, for they are the most vulnerable.

On Saturday, President Arthur Peter Mutharika announced new preventive measures from the Covid 19 Pandemic. Among them: he directed the treasury to reduce the salaries of the President and cabinet ministers by 10% and direct the proceeds to the recruitment of more medical personnel who will help in the fight against the disease and also increase risk allowances of the health workers. He also thus, directed the Ministry of Health and Population to recruit 2,000 more health workers to help fight Covid 19.

So far, Malawi has registered four confirmed cases of Covid 19; three of which are from Lilongwe and one is from Blantyre.

Malawi

Society of Medical Doctors president’s resignation amid Covid-19 outbreak scares Malawians

Maneno Chimulala
Dr. Amos Nyaka

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Malawians have been left in a panic mode following the unexpected resignation of President of the Society of Medical Doctors Dr. Amos Nyaka amid the Covid-19 outbreak which has claimed lives of about 60 000 people worldwide.

Nyaka, who tendered his resignation on Saturday, has resigned from his post with immediate effect.

His resignation comes barely two days after President Peter Mutharika announced three confirmed Covid-19 cases.

In a letter to the Society, Dr Nyaka attributes his resignation to exigencies of his public service to the nation and in the context of the rapidly evolving events in the country.

“Due to the exigencies of my public service to the nation and in the context of the rapidly evolving events in our country, I write to tender my resignation as the President of the Society of Medical Doctors with immediate effect,” reads the letter, addressed to Society’s Secretary General.

As Malawi Government is yet to comment on the matter, Malawians who spoke to Maravi Post have expressed fears that the doctor might consider resigning from the post after some disagreements with the government task force which is composed of cabinet ministers.

“It is very terrible. I suspect that the government officials were pushing for something he was not happy with as a professional doctor,” said James Mphalasa, a Blantyre resident.

“We are very worried considering the situation we are in. it is our humble plea that the politicians must stop politicizing this very critical issue. It is about life and death,” he added.

Writing on Facebook page, LordDenning QB said “He (Nyaka) was told to shut up or honorably resign” after he demanded for Government to recruit more Health Workers; ensure adequate availability of Personal Protective Equipment for Health Workers Safety; and reconsideration of Health Workers’ Remuneration in the wake of national response to the deadly virus.

On Thursday, April 2, President Peter Mutharika confirmed the country’s first three cases of coronavirus disease. According to Mutharika, the cases involved a resident of Lilongwe who travelled to India, one of their relatives and their maid.