LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera on Monday lauded World Vision Malawi for uplifting rural communities livelihoods beyond human face.
Chakwera was speaking at Kamuzu Palace in the capital Lilongwe when World Vision handed over of National Construction Projects built between the years of 2023 and 2024 to government from World Vision Malawi.
The projects are about 395 in total and worth MK8 billion.
The projects which have been built across Malawi in the areas of Early Childhood Development, livelihoods improvement, water and sanitation, education, food security and maternal and child health.
Receiving the projects, President Chakwera commended World Vision Malawi for their unwavering support in uplifting the lives of the underprivileged.
“There are a lot of organizations that reaches out to the poor but World Vision is the best. You are helping government in alleviating poverty especially for those living in rural areas. You are doing a commendable job,” said Chakwera.
In his remarks, Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Richard Chimwendo Banda thanked the organization for working tirelessly in alleviating challenges faced by children in the country.
Hearing the number of projects completed, said the minister, World Vision has demonstrated that they are serious in helping Malawi Government in fulfilling the Social Development Goals (SDGs) as well as vision Malawi 2063 Agenda.
Presenting the projects to government, World Vision Malawi Board Chairperson Dr. Alfred Kaponda explained that the infrastructures will go a long way in reducing and preventing the spread of water borne diseases such as diarrhea among children thereby enhancing early childhood development.
He hailed the communities from where the infrastructures have been constructed for their collaboration with his organization, and also for owning the projects.
A non-state actor, World Vision Malawi has been implementing relief, development and advocay interventions in Malawi since 1982 and operates in all districts in the country through long-term programmes and grant funded projects.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The World Vision Malawi has embarked “Able to Thrive” project targeting over 10,000 children with disabilities.
World Vision Malawi’s Director of Operations Charles Chimombo told the media briefing during the sideline of the Global Disability Forum underway in the capital Lilongwe that in phase one of the project about 2,566 children and youth with disabilities in Malawi’s five are receiving different support.
“Globally, the project seeks to improve the lives of 60,000 children with disabilities, including 10,000 children in Malawi. I report here that in phase one of the project, we have reached 2,566 children of which 1,121 are girls.
“We are supporting these children in collaboration with our service partners such as MAP, SandiThandiza, BeitCure, ABC, and many more,” lauds Chimombo.
He therefore stated that the week long Global Disability Forum forum represents World Vision commitment to ensuring every child, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to thrive and achieve their full potential.
In her remarks, Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza said government is fully committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities are respected, valued, and able to participate fully in all aspects of life.
“As a country, as government, we have a law in place that speaks on the persons with disabilities. The bill was passed in just this year, and it was assented to by the President, but having the the law in place is just on paper, but what would want to see is implementation of what is in the act.
“So, this forum will help us as a country to learn from other countries what they are doing in regards to issues pertaining to persons with a disability,” said Sendeza.
The minister therefore challenged public, private sector and the community to change their mindset to involve people with disabilities at every stage of planning to achieve a meaningful inclusion.
She observed further that people living with disabilities continue to face significant significant challenges in their daily lives due to their continued exclusion in matters of national development.
“It is important to recognize that the impact of exclusion of persons with disabilities does not only affect their living conditions but also cost national development,” says Sendeza.
Global Disability Forum which Malawi is hosting at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe runs from July 15 to 19, 2024.
The forum has attracted participants from over 10 countries globally including Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa, United States of America (USA) and New Zealand among others.
The gathering aims at sharing knowledge on inclusive education, enhancing case management for disabilities, and empowering marginalized groups.
The forum is expected to build stronger networks, share valuable insights, and promote collaboration among government agencies, non-governmental organizations, donors and private sector partners.
If it were not for the interventions of World Vision Malawi (MVM), people from Traditional Authorities (T.As) Nsamala and Chanthunya in Balaka would still have been regular visitors at the district’s referral hospital.
Every day, four years ago, scores of people, especially pregnant women and under-five children were cramming Balaka district hospital to seek medical help following the discomfort they were feeling in their bodies.
It was the handwork of an Anopheles Mosquito which had found a fertile territory in their homes.
This contributed to many households abandoning development activities at their homes and begin to concentrate on hospital issues.
Deaths of pregnant women and children were a common site here.
This did not only debilitate the communities’ development, but it also led to some old people being accused of bewitching the mothers and children.
Interestingly, the situation opened a window of an economic opportunity for the self-acclaimed African doctors to cash in on from desperate patients.
Hundreds of people were flocking to them in an attempt to save their lives.
Jenipher Patrick, 23, from Hanjahanja Village in T/A Nsamala says the situation contributed to poverty in their areas.
She explains: “In our home, malaria was a burden. I must lament that a week could hardly pass without our two children complaining of body disorder.”
When she visits to the hospital, Patrick says, doctors were diagnosing the children of malaria.
“This could go on and on. We had less time to concentrate on farming, businesses and anything that can bring food on our tables,” she reminisces.
Her counterpart, Melipher Nkhulambe, 26, from the same area rues the situation too, saying had it been that she had no money, she could have lost her daughter.
“My daughter just fellow down. When we got hold of her, we noted that she fainted. This made us to hurriedly hire a motorcycle kabanza who took us to Balaka hospital.
“Thanks that my kid regained consciousness after doctors helped her. I don’t know what could have befallen me had it been that I did not have money,” she recalls.
Nkhulambe regrets that their area lost productive citizens due to malaria threat.
Malaria is a major public health problem in Malawi with an estimated 6 million cases recorded annually.
For children under-five years of age and pregnant women, it is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.
Currently, malaria accounts for over 30 percent of out-patient visits and 34 percent of in-patients (HMIS 2018).
Additionally, malaria burdens on families’ efforts to come out of the web of poverty.
Work hours lost, school absenteeism and high levels of expenditures for prevention and treatment are another burden for the state, family and children.
It is against this background that compelled WVM with financial support from Global Fund and Malawi Government to roll-out Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) in Balaka district to kill the mosquitoes right from their habitats in a bid to combat malaria.
The initiative, which seeks to wipe out malaria through the spray of chemicals in home interiors also supports government’s strategy on integrated vector control which includes Long-Lasting Insecticide Net (LLINS) distribution and larvicide management.
The interventions are also being implemented in Mangochi and Nkhata-Bay districts.
Speaking on Friday in Balaka during the media tour to appreciate the progress of the IRS intervention, WVM Chief of Party Global Fund Grants (HIV, TB and Malaria) Biziwick Mwale said their aim is to combat malaria by creating harmless environment.
“Our organization is working towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages by reducing global maternal mortality, ending preventable deaths of new-borns and children under 5 and ending the epidemics of HIV, Tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases by 2030,” he explained.
Mwale described the intervention as successful, saying since it was launched in 2019 it has tremendously reduced cases of malaria in the three districts.
“Since the inception of this initiative, we have seen our organization beating the target of houses that we design to spray. This has dramatically reduced the cases of malaria and contributed to health people,” he boasted.
Mwale disclosed that between January to March 2021, the three districts registered a 50 percent malaria reduction in comparison to the same period in the previous year 2020.
He added that in 2021, his organisation safeguarded nearly 2million people from malaria through IRS.
Mwale, however, lamented the behaviour of some people for marrying the initiative with religious beliefs, culture, myths and misconceptions, saying this has resulted into some other people denying the sprayers from spraying the houses.
To this effect, Mwale, therefore, asked the chiefs, religious leaders and community leaders to play a critical role in convincing people to accept IRS so that malaria is eliminated.
Balaka district hospital chief preventive health officer, Blessings Chitsime hailed the IRS intervention, saying since it was rolled out in the district in 2019, it has helped cases of malaria to drastically drop down.
“Before implementing this intervention in 2018, we had 498 malaria cases out of 1000 cases, but after rolling out the intervention in 2019, we reduced it to 188 out of 1000 cases. This is a great achievement,” he confessed.
Chitsime added that the initiative has also reduced hospital admition, revealing that the development has reduced the burden of “malaria drug utilisation” the hospital was having.
“We now have plenty of malaria drugs in our pharmacy. This was unlike yester years. We all salute to this mpopela (IRS) initiative. It has brought remarkable changes,” he said.
Chitsime said since the initiative has proved to be effective, the hospital is currently working with all health workers in the communities including volunteers to ensure that people embrace the initiative.
Senior Chief Inkosi Chanthunya hailed the initiative too, observing that it has reduced the misfortunes of preventable deaths his area was experiencing.
“We used to mourn every time and again due to deaths caused by malaria. But now, we don’t have such deaths. This is awesome,” he said
The chief also touted the initiative, saying it has contributed to the development in the area.
“My people had no time to go to their gardens and do farming nor engaging in businesses. Their time were spent on escorting their relatives to the hospital.
“But now they have more time to do their endeavor’s. This has led them to have food for consumption and commercial,” he said.
To this end, he promised to use his influence in encouraging people to accept the sprayers in their homes so that malaria scourge is clobbered.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-World Vision Malawi (WVM) on Thursday, November 3, 2022 donated medical supplies worthy MK1 billion to Ministry of Health to improve health and wellbeing of children.
The donated items including pharmaceuticals, basic hygiene products, toys, clothing, foot wear, sports equipment, wheel chairs and education materials among other things.
Apart from Health Ministry donation, WVM has also supported this years Nation Publication Limited (NPL)’s Mothers Fun Run to Dowa Hospital with MK20 million.
Not only but also Furthermore, further donation of items valued at MK10 million (US$9,984.84) as a response to the Cholera outbreak in the country.
The donations have been made possible through its program dabbed as ‘Gifts in Kind”.
World Vision Malawi’s Director, Business Development and Grants Pennia Mavedzenge disclosed assorted medical supplies have been delivered to Machinga, Mulanje, Phalombe, Chiradzulu, Thyolo and Dedza District Hospitals, Mzuzu Central Hospital and Mapale Hospital in Mzuzu
Mavedzenge added that about 2,472,000 Albendazole and 246,300 Vitamin A tablets which have been distributed to district hospitals in Malawi.
“About 40 medical examination beds which have already been delivered to the following Health Centres: Tchesa in Dedza district, Mpherembe in Mzimba district, Ng’anga and Nkhuzi in Ntchisi district, Chamba in Machinga district, Chimembe, Chikowa, Makata, Chileka, Madziabango, Mdeka, Lundu, Dziwe Health Centres in Blantyre District, Chiunjiza, Mitundu, Kabudula, Ndaula , Malembo, Diamphwi, Nathenje and Chimbalanga Health Centres in Lilongwe District.
“The medical supplies consignment for Kamuzu Central Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Zomba General Hospital, Chikwawa District Hospital, Nsanje District Hospital, Chipwaila and Mkumaniza Health Centres will be delivered after this symbolic handover ceremony,” she added.
Mavedzenge lauds, “This is on top of other direct support given through districts and health centres that are in our catchment areas. These donations demonstrate the commitment that World Vision Malawi has to support Government efforts to improve the lives of the people of Malawi particularly those residing in rural areas.
“We look forward to a continued collaboration with the Government of Malawi as we work for the poor in promoting human transformation and justice, to ensure that every child lives life in all its fullness”.
Receiving the donation on behalf of Malawi government, Health Ministry Principal Secretary Chisamile applauded WVM’s gesture saying will improve quality of health services in public hospitals.
Chisamile therefore assured of proper distribution usage of the donated medical supplies.
Echoing on the same, NPL Head of business and organisation development, MacDonald Kadewa lauded WVI for timely donation.
Kadewa disclosed that this year’s NPL Mothers Fun Run targets MK100 million for Dowa hospital saying WVM donation is great contribution.
In 2021, World Vision Malawi launched its 2021-2025 strategy that seeks to transform lives of 6.5 million children across Malawi.
World Vision Malawi enjoys a cordial partnership with various Government Ministries including Ministries of Health, Education, Disaster Management, and Gender and Disability.
In the Health sector, WVM work evolves around improving the health of women and children, thereby contributing to the global reduction of under5 and maternal mortality.
In order to achieve this, World Vision implements various interventions but also sources various medical items and supplies through its ‘Gifts in Kind’ program.
‘Gifts in Kind’ donations are first quality products sourced from hundreds of corporations and manufacturers around the world to support World Vision interventions in the countries where we are working.
World Vision Malawi, through its Gift in Kind program has for the past years supported major campaigns spearheaded by the Ministry of Health including Child Health Days and Mass Drug Administration with provision of Vitamin A and Albendazole.
World Vision takes careful measures that the products provided by our donors, reach the intended beneficiaries and that all risks are mitigated.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-World Vision Malawi (WVM) has emphasized the need to empower girl child with proper education in order to contribute positively to the development of the country.
Advocacy and Child Protection Manager at WVM, Lizzie Lombe said this on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at their Offices as part of commemoration of International Day of Girl Child dubbed as “Girls take over” at our office.
Lombe said WVM has realized that there are many girls that have potential to excel in their education but they are lacking support and motivation.
Primary School learner with WVM boss Francis Dube
“We have noted that most girls that are in such situation have fallen prey of dropping out of school and are being forced to enter marriages at tender age,” Lombe said.
She said as part of the commemoration of the day, WVM brought 10 girls from Nkhoma Area Programme (AP) to appreciate how their officers work in various fields.
The Manager added that the visit was aimed at inspiring them to aim high with their education adding that they were able to interact with officers who were on child sponsorship from WVM.
“We are doing these visits for the third year running and about 20 girls who visited our office last year have done well academically and were selected to several national secondary schools as a result of the exposure,” Lombe viewed.
Chairperson for St Patrick’s Catholic Parish Girl Guide and a second year student at Emmanuel University in Lilongwe, Tawina Banda said the visit has inspired her to work hard in education.
She said despite facing a lot of challenges in life, girls need to be focused on what they want in life and be able to set goals.
A Standard 8 pupil at Mitondo Primary School at Nengezi Mirius hailed the visit saying it was as an eye opener for her to work hard in class.
She said during the visit they were briefed on borehole maintenance and promotion of water and sanitation issues.
WVM has over 100, 328 registered children in the country.
Rice farmers at Kalwe Irrigation Scheme in Nkhatabay District have vowed to rebuild their rice schemes that has been partly washed away by heavy rains just over a fortnight ago.
Overnight heavy rains on April 27 washed away over 14 hectares, affecting over 100 rice farmers in the area that was initially spared from the stormy tropical Cyclones Anna, Gombe and Batsirai that kept wrecking havoc in the Sub-Saharan Region over some months ago.
Banda showing the trail the gushing water left on the crop. (Photo by Fatsani Gunya)
The rains triggered floods in many parts of the district including the scheme, which World Vision Malawi (WVM) did recently rehabilitated through one of its projects in the district, following years of abandon.
“It is true; the floods have affected 14 hectares of rice. We urgently need K900,000 to replace the damaged section of the pipe line system,” confirmed Andrew Kolove, WVM’s Development Facilitator for Nkhatabay.
“The money will cater for cement and extra 10 pipes with 200mm sizes. With adequate support he, the works can take only three days to fix the damage,” he said.
While bemoaning the damage cause, Kalove felt that flooding somehow presents the scheme with a chance to display their residence going forward.
“Mostly, it has helped us identify weaker and stronger points, for example, we need to reinforce the pipes with stabilizing cement pillars throughout because we have noted that the sections where we have similar pillars survived.”
The farmers salvage a supply pipe from the flooded field
Also confirming the development was Hanock Banda, the scheme’s chairperson who indicated they were still assessing the damage caused and that they would be calling the affected farmers for a meeting to chart the way forward.
Out of the total affected 121 households, 64 are female-headed.
Said Banda: “This is the worst floods ever experienced in this scheme. The whole area was submerged in water. We had to wait for days before the water could subsizede.”
“I was expecting to harvest 10 bags of rice each weighing 90 kg but with the floods, I will probably salvage around six bags only,” he added.
In a separate interview on Thursday, Sangwani Banda-the scheme’s secretary admitted to have also suffered a major setback.
“I was expecting to harvest about 35 bags of rice but my projection has been cut to about eight bags only. This is disheartening.”
The floods have domino effects towards 468 children who directly benefit from the scheme whose majority, 53 percent of whom are girls.
However, World Vision Malawi has showed commitment towards a towards quick restoration of the scheme.
The organisation has since pledged financial and related technical support to ensure that the rehabilitation works include permanent upgrades to the system, which was partly exposed to floods due to inadequate tree cover at the scheme’s main water intake.
The 48-hectare Kalwe is a flagship Scheme under WVM’s Transforming Household Resilience in Vulnerable Environments (THRIVE).
THRIVE is a five-year project being implemented in the country’s districts of Nkhatabay, Ntchisi and Lilongwe.
“We have a component called Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration in which farmers are asked to reclaim lost forests by allowing trees and tree stumps to regenerate. We will also intensify our component on Disaster Risk Reduction,” added Emmanuel Shaba- WVM’s THRIVE Project Officer.
Collectively, Cyclones Anna, Batsirai claimed over 40 lives from the 20 districts they swept through and impacted over 950 000 people including half a million children; according to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs reports.
Faith Leaders offered their dedication and prayer to Dube pic by Tione Andsen (Mana)
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-World Vision Malawi (WVM) on Friday, August 13, 2021 inaugurated new National Director Francis Dube who has assured of advancing mindset change in the organisation’s programming.
Dube was inaugurated with prayers as the christian centered in the capital Lilongwe.
Faith leaders offered their dedication prayers to Dube during the ceremony.
The new WVM boss said the position comes with responsibilities, expectations and challenges where it requires one to deliver.
He said there was need to work in partnerships with all stakeholders in order to deliver the expected results in the sectors of health, education, food and security, water supply and child development.
“As the organisation works in line with Malawi Veep office agenda of Mindset Change, this my task ahead that our programming attain to that, ” assures Dube.
Dube- the position comes with responsibilities pic by Tione Andsen (Mana)
Advisory Council for Chair of WVM, Dr Lucy Kachapila said this Friday during the inauguration of new WVM National Director, Francis Dube by Faith leaders at Sunbird Lilongwe Hotel.
She said WVM has been working closely with Churches and partners in various developmental programmes which are aimed at uplifting the lives of ordinary communities more especially women and children.
Kachapila said WVM would always strive to make sure that their support to the communities has a true bearing of improving their livelihoods.
The Chair assured the new National Director of WVM of their support to fulfilling his vision and plans for the Malawi office.
“We would like to thank you for accepting to take the new challenge to head the Malawi office. We are promising to work together in the fulfillment of the vision of WVM office in supporting the under privileged in the country,” she added.
Kachapila praised the outgoing Officer In-Charge of WVM Office, Catherine Omenda for the steering the office well saying her leadership had an impact in the running of the activities for the organization.
New WVM National Director, Dube said the new position comes with responsibilities, expectations and challenges where it requires one to deliver.He said there was need to work in partnerships with all stakeholders in order to deliver the expected results in the sectors of health, education, food and security, water supply and child development.
Omenda wished Dube all the best as he takes over the Malawi office.
“I wish to assure you that Malawi is a good country where one enjoys working in. Community members are very eager to implement various projects within their areas,” she added.
Executive Board Member for Malawi Council of Churches,Rev. Evance Mphalasa expressed gratitude to WVM for providing support in various sectors of development in the country.
He said WVM has been a strong partner with most churches in the country as a way of promoting Christian values among communities when spearheading development agendas.
Dube was appointed National Director for WVM with effect from August 1, 2021.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-In its first phase in the campaign to fight malaria, World Vision Malawi has distributed 8.2 million mosquito nets in the distribution of long lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) in the country’s 28 districts.
World Vision’s chief of party Alexander Chikonga and National Malaria Control Program (NNCP) manager Happy Kondowe told the news conference towards the end of net distribution exercise the only daunting task is to ensure that Malawians properly use the nets
World Vision’s chief of party Alexander Chikonga says the exercise was successful and is now rolling out into its last phase.
The distribution exercise is being coordinated by National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) in conjunction with its cooperating partners, World Vision and National Taskforce.
NMCP manager Dr Michael Kayange disclosed that World Vision has distributed 8.2 million nets and that 10.9 million mosquito nets had been procured to be given to 4.2 million Malawian households that were registered as recipients.
The distribution is currently in the last phase which covers districts in the Central Region.
“We did enough community sensitisation and mobilization before the distribution of the mosquito nets to make sure that the exercise achieved its purpose,” he said.
Kayange observed that these figures mean that almost the entire Malawian population is affected by malaria, a situation he feared is negatively affecting the country’s social-economic development.
“We still have a duty as cooperating partners to sensitize people on the need to use these nets properly so that we are seen to be really controlling the spread of malaria,” he emphasized.
The visit at Chitedza Health centre, in the rural Lilongwe this week witnessed a unumber of women waiting to receive the mosquito nets.
Both Group Village Headman Makoko and health worker Jean Mandevu said the exercise was done in a transparent manner that beneficiaries were also civil educated on how important the nets were.
Each family were receiving about two nets and told its practical use.
GHH Makoko therefore expressed happiness over the large turn out of his subjects to collect the nets, saying his subjects adhered to his earlier communication to them how important it was to go and receive the nets and use them properly in order to prevent malaria.
The maximum number of nets a family can get in the ongoing distribution exercise is four, no matter how large and according to Kayange, two members of a household are supposed to share one net
Malaria remains one of the main killer diseases in sub-Saharan Africa with Malawi registering 10 malaria-related deaths every day and six million cases of the disease every year.
The prevalence rate for malaria in Malawi’s rural areas is as high as 30 percent while in urban centres it is at 4 percent.
World Vision Malawi (WVM) has said Early Childhood Development (ECD) requires the services of specialized personnel in order to consolidate its meaningful delivery.
WVM Associate Director for Advocacy, Communication and Justice for Children, Charles Gwengwe told the Media Friday during a tour of Mtengowambalame Community Based Childcare Centre (CBCC) at Kakhuta Primary school in Ntchisi as part of the Early Childhood Development ECD) commemoration week.
He said WVM appreciates that government embraced community care model in implementing ECD but should not have been a permanent solution.
Gwengwe observed that ECD services are specialized services that require special people because it is beyond education and it involves the developmental domains of children be it physical, emotional and psychological.
“We cannot continue relying on volunteers to can on with the services but we need trained people. We need to discourage this use of volunteers on services which required specialized personnel,” the Associate Director lamented.
He pointed out that there was need for serious education reforms in order to training people to obtain degrees and masters in EDC like the rest of the world are doing.
Gwengwe said the reforms should bring noticeable changes that would eliminate issues of filters that have hampered the education sector in the country.
“To be realistic we need to reform to the serious the education system and look at kids from zero to higher level. You have noticed that we have more children at EDC level but very few at standard Eight and secondary level due to filters that are within our education system which need to be removed completely. We need to do away with filters naturally,” the Director stated.
He said there is need to look at the issue holistically on how to reduce filters in all levels of our education system and come up with an approach which could help to minimize them.
Gwengwe e said the Ministry set aside the week for advocacy campaign to profiling the work of ECD and
The Official added that WVM believes EDC services play a very vital role in upgrading the education standards in the country.
He said the approach his organization has taken is to view the education from broader perspective starting from 0 to whatever ranger.
“What we have embrace as an organization is not only to invest in infrastructure but provide capacity building to caregivers and raising awareness among communities so that we can probably have a model to which we can share with other stakeholders and government in raising the ECD standards” Gwengwe stated.
He told reporters that, “What you have seen is what I could consider a model ECD close to a primary school which is rendering appropriate stuff that is supposed to be an EDC centre. We are hoping that when time for transition to primary, the delivery of stuff should be appropriate to primary level in making the children getting prepared for primary education.”
Caregiver for Mtengowambalame CBCC, Finess Nkhunda said the enrolment has increase since the introduction of the centre but their main challenge is playing materials for the children.
She said it was pleasing to recall that the centres started under a tree in 2002 but now it’s a building with the support of WVM.
WVM Ntchisi District Programme Manager, Harold Munthali said all the caregivers are the centre are trained in ECD services.
He pointed out his organization encourages community management of the centre which issues of providing locally made playing materials are enhanced.
Mtengowambalame CBCC has enrolment of 111 children in which 60 are boys and 51 girls.
