Tag Archives: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Development

MentalLab App nominated for Top 6 in UNFPA awards

Maravi Post Reporter


By Phillip Pasula

MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-A locally generated MentalLab App has received international recognition after being shortlisted among the top six in the Mental Health and Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRHR) Hacklab African competition.

The competition is run by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and aims to identify innovative and fundable solutions to issues related to Mental Health and ASRHR.

MentalLab, which was developed by Sparc Systems and Carings Hands, has been shortlisted as one of the six finalists in the category, beating over 200 solutions from Across Africa.

The final event will take place at the Youth Connekt Africa Summit which takes place from 8-12 December 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The event will bring together other young innovators, investors, and business leaders in the region.

Caring Hands Director, Christine Mhone, said being shortlisted among the top six in this competition is a remarkable achievement.

“Not just for our team but for everyone who has been advocating for better mental health support in Africa.

“For the future of mental health in Malawi and across Africa, this opportunity will help to remove the stigma on mental health illnesses, educate the masses, create awareness, create and increase open dialogue for solutions, remove labels from victims, make people more sensitive towards mental health illnesses, encourage more people to seek help and encourage more people to take up the mental health profession,” Mhone said.

She said this would encourage innovators in Africa to create more innovations in the health sector in general and specifically mental health.

“This opportunity will emphasize the importance of mental health as physical health. Mental health remains a pressing concern across Africa, with many individuals struggling to access appropriate care and support. The recognition of this app in this Competition underscores the importance of addressing these challenges and the potential of technology to make a difference.

“The shortlisting not only brings honor to us but also shines a spotlight on the crucial issue of mental health in Malawi and Africa. With this recognition, we hope to attract more attention, resources, and partnerships to scale up the impact of our innovation and ultimately improve the mental well-being of millions across the continent,” she added.

Mhone also disclosed that they partnered with Sparc Systems because the firm is a leading IT Malawian technology company.

“Sparc generously provided the solution as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. The “Mental Lab” was developed, hosted, and managed by Sparc Systems, representing a unique partnership that leverages its technical and innovation expertise.

“Sparc Systems is responsible for all the technical requirements to do with the application and ensuring every risk is minimized,” she said.

This 6th edition of the Youth Connect Africa Summit is organized by Youth Connekt Africa Hub and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Summit is expected to convene over 20,000 young people, government officials, corporate leaders, and development champions.

Development

UNFPA donates relief items to Chikwawa flood survivors

Angella Semu

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has donated relief items to flood survivors in Chikwawa district in response to floods that affected most parts of the country.

UNFPA Deputy Representative, Masaki Watabe, made the donation to the survivors on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at Fombe Admarc camp in the district.

UNFPA donates relief items to Chikwawa flood survivors

According to Watabe, UNFPA is supporting the camp with mobile health services to take care of the basic sexual and reproductive health needs and protection of women, adolescent girls and young people.

“The situation in this camp is still difficult, the humanitarian crisis is not yet over considering this is still rainy season. But UNFPA is committed to help as much as we can with our resources together with our development partners.

“UNFPA is focusing on the health and rights of women, adolescent girls and young people. In this camp, we’re supporting with mobile health services to take care of the basic sexual and reproductive health needs such as family planning and HIV testing.

“We have also been providing dignity kits and today we are donating solar lumps to ensure the environment is safer for the survivors. We understand that there’s high risk of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in such environments, as UNFPA we’ve provided them with these solar lumps for communities to utilize for their own interest”, said Watabe.

UNFPA has however disclosed that due to the climate change, degradation as well as population pressure, the country is prone to recurring natural disaster and organization is committed to help those affected by disasters not only during the emergency phase but also in the recovery stage. The organisation has also urged government institutions and communities to build resilience in preparation for future disasters.

Speaking to the camp chairman, Roderick Malenga, he has commended UNFPA for the donation.

“We have been receiving mobile health services from UNFPA since we moved here on January, 25, 2021. The help rendered has assisted us to keep our women, girls and young people safe.

Malenga has however asked well-wishers to help them with food items. He added that government helped them with food in the early days when they moved in the camp but the food was not enough as the camp is hosting many people.

He also disclosed that the camp has other people including children as well as disabled people who’re in need of medical support.

In her remarks, one of the survivors at the camp, Charity Malunga, applauded UNFPA for the donation. She has however urged other organisation to assist the young and pregnant women in the camp with other basic needs to make the environment more habitable for them.

Fombe Admarc Camp situated in Chikhambi village, T/A Kasisi has about 250 households; 1630 people, 1010 females, 110 breastfeeding women, 138 under five children and 43 pregnant women.