Speaking on Monday, during the commemoration of Anti-Child Labour Open Day in the district, Programme’s Coordinator for TUM, Pilirani Kamaliza, said the union noted that most of the children in the area were engaged in coffee production.
“We observed an increase in the number of children dropping out of school in Lughesyo zone and upon making our investigations, we discovered that these children were engaged in coffee production,” said Kamaliza.
He then called upon community members in the district to desist from the act, saying it was suppressing the Union’s efforts in ensuring that children’s right to education was not infringed.
Learners like these are victims of child labour in Misuku-Pic by Bishop Witmos-Mana
In his remarks, District Education Manager (DEM) for Chitipa, Clement Nyirenda concurred with Kamaliza, saying child labour affects education standards and should be discouraged at all cost.
Senior Labour Officer for Chitipa District Macknown Mogha appealed for efforts from both local and international partners in curbing child labour.
“My office has indeed been receiving reports concerning the growing number of cases in child trafficking and child labour here in Chitipa. There is need for collaborated efforts if we are to eliminate this problem,” Mogha said.
Over 200 vulnerable children received school uniforms during the event, which was spiced up by different activities.
TUM is currently implementing the Accelerating Action in the Elimination of Child Labour (ACCEL) programme in fifteen schools under the Lughesyo zone in Chitipa, aimed at advocating the rights of children to education.
Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC) has been hailed for promoting the rights of persons with albinism in Mangochi.
MHRRC held an open day to sensitize communities on the rights of persons with albinism at Chowe Primary School on Saturday where Senior Chief Chowe said MHRCC’s project Cultivating Environment for the Promotion and Protection of Rights of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (CEPPAM) has helped raise awareness on the rights of persons with albinism in the area.
Senior Chief Sultan Chowe. Pic, Ernest Mfunya (Mana)
“There is a need for communities to be aware that a person with albinism is equal to every human being,” he added.
Chowe observed that before MHRRC interventions persons with albinism were facing a lot of challenges such as stigma, deaths threat, insults, and failure to do farming and other productive activities because they were living in fear.
“The project has significantly raised awareness on issues of albinism and this has seen a reduction in violation of rights of persons with albinism in the district,” he said while expressing worry over the project’s exit soon.
Chowe hailed MHRRC for introducing CEPPAM in Mangochi but asked the human rights organization to lobby for more resources from various donors so that the interventions continue as the project is ending in March 2023.
“Although it is mentioned that the project is coming to an end this year, I would like to urge community leaders, parents, and other stakeholders to work hand in hand in providing security to persons with albinism to ensure that community structures are strong to sustain the interventions,” he said.
Jawadu London, Chairperson for APAM Mangochi District. Pic, Ernest Mfunya (Mana)
Chairperson for the Association of Persons with Albinism in Mangochi, Jawadu London said through the MHRRC has raised awareness such that persons with albinism are elected in different decision-making positions such as Village Development Committees and Area Development Committees and other community-level structures.
London noted that Mangochi district has four safe houses for persons with albinism out of many households with people with albinism saying “This is not enough to provide them with security”.
MHRRC Executive Director, Emma Kaliya expressed the organization’s commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of people with albinism.
Emma Kaliya, Director of MHRRC. Pic , Ernest Mfunya (Mana)
“Through the project, MHRRC has sensitized people on the rights of people with albinism, built capacity to duty bearers at community and district level to empower them how they should handle issues to do with people with albinism of top of raising awareness on laws that protect people with albinism and all forms of disabilities,” she added.
One of the community members, Ndasiyaga Ali, from Chowe 2 Village, said she learned a lot through the awareness and would encourage fellow community members to human rights.
She said there was a need to provide adequate protection for people with albinism against attacks and dispute all misconceptions about their life
The event which was held under the theme ‘United in Making Our Voices Heard’ had a line of activities such as traditional dances, drama, and dialogue sessions where duty bearers explained their roles in promoting and protecting the rights of people with albinism.
MHRRC in Collaboration with Christian Blind Mission (CBM) is implementing the CEPPAM project in the country with funding from the European Union (EU) in six districts including Mangochi, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Ntcheu, Lilongwe, and Dowa.
In the vast expanse of the cosmos, humanity has always been driven by an insatiable curiosity to unravel the mysteries of the universe. Science, innovation, and space exploration stand as the pillars of our progress, propelling us into a future filled with endless possibilities. In this blog article, we delve into the thrilling world where these three elements converge, shaping the way we perceive the universe and revolutionizing the world we live in.
Innovation, the practical application of creative ideas, bridges the gap between knowledge and tangible solutions. In recent years, innovations such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy sources, and advanced healthcare systems have reshaped societies, offering glimpses into a future where the impossible becomes attainable.
Gadgets: Bridging the Gap Between Science and Society
Gadgets, the everyday marvels that shape our lives, bridge the gap between scientific discoveries and society. From smartphones and wearable devices to smart home appliances and virtual reality headsets, gadgets have become an integral part of modern existence. These devices not only facilitate communication and entertainment but also serve as essential tools for scientific research and space exploration.
Imagine a world where space tourism is as accessible as a plane ticket, where innovative gadgets enable us to explore the farthest reaches of the universe from the comfort of our homes. Picture a future where sustainable technologies mitigate the impact of climate change and preserve our planet for generations to come. This vision of the future is not a distant dream but a tangible reality on the horizon, waiting to be shaped by the brilliant minds and innovative spirit of humanity.
Innovation: Transforming Ideas into Reality
Problem-Solving: Innovation is not just about inventing new gadgets or technologies; it is primarily about creative problem-solving. Innovators identify existing challenges and develop novel solutions to address them.
Interdisciplinary Approach: Innovation flourishes when diverse minds collaborate and share their expertise. It thrives on interdisciplinary approaches that bring together individuals from various fields such as science, engineering, design, and business.
Continuous Improvement: Innovation is a dynamic and ongoing process that demands adaptability and a willingness to embrace change. Successful innovators understand the importance of continuous improvement.
As the world becomes increasingly aware of environmental issues, technology developers are focusing on creating gadgets that are not only advanced but also environmentally conscious. Solar-powered chargers, energy-efficient smart home devices, and biodegradable phone cases are just a few examples of how gadgets are evolving to reduce their ecological footprint.
These innovations represent a significant shift in the tech industry, highlighting the potential for gadgets to not only improve our daily lives but also contribute positively to environmental conservation. By integrating green technologies into everyday devices, we are stepping into an era where gadgets not only bridge the gap between science and society but also play a vital role in fostering a sustainable future.
Thecommittee’s Chairperson, Noel Lipipa, expressed the sentiments on Friday during the committee’s visit to the cooperative’s offices at M’bwatalika in Lilongwe where it has constructed an 80-metric- ton warehouse as well as a factory.
Lipipa said cooperative groups play a vital role in job creation and improving the living standards of ordinary farmers in the country, hence the need to empower and work hand in hand with them.
“We are aware that our country is not developed, as a result, unemployment is high and, therefore, cooperative groups need to play a significant role in creating jobs for communities.
“There is a need to empower these young energetic youths with some resources that can boost their business,” he said.
Lipipa added that as a committee, they would scrutinize some of the challenges ACADES Cooperative Group is facing so that they are assisted in overcoming the challenges to make it a successful group.
“This must be a perfect example to some youths in the country to not just be idle but start entrepreneurship that can improve their living standards,’’ Lipipa said.
In his remarks, Secretary for Public Sector Reforms, Dr. Luckie Sikwese, emphasized the need for empowering the youth and promoting a good environment for them to thrive.
Sikwese speaking to journalists at ACADES site in Lilongwe on Friday. Pic by Mana
“There is impact in empowering the youth, as we can see today that ACADES has benefited a lot from the loans they obtained and they have come up with a well-established cooperative group that is producing many things.
“They are also able to trade outside the country. If we can help them to achieve their goal that means many people are going to benefit from this project,’’ said Sikwese.
Secretary for ACADES Cooperative Group, Chrissy Jafali, highlighted challenges the group is facing, mostly due to the lack of electric power at their premises.
ACADES Cooperative Group is a network of over 300 youths in agribusiness, which is aimed at promoting youth investments in agribusiness through the provision of access to production resources, market linkages, skill development, and networking for the youth in agribusiness.
The cooperative operates in Lilongwe, Mchinji, and Kasungu among other districts.
According to World Health Organisation, an Advanced HIV disease patient is one with a CD4 count below 200.
Daudi made expressed the sentiments during the launch of the continuation of an initiative dubbed ‘Advanced HIV Disease Quality Improvement Project’ in Salima District.
The launch function was organized by Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation with financial assistance from Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation.
The project is aimed at improving quality in the management of Advanced HIV patients and upscale screening of the patients.
Daudi being shown a pavilion on HIV management
She said the country lags behind in screening and managing advanced HIV disease, a development which she said leads to deaths that could have been avoided.
“It is not surprising to note that we have not registered a significant reduction in deaths for this group of HIV patients,” she said.
She added: “Clients diagnosed with advanced HIV diseases are not given a treatment of good quality, which is causing high death rate amongst patients with advanced HIV disease.”
The Deputy Health Minister, therefore, commended the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the project which seeks to capitalize on the successes of the pilot project: “Advanced HIV Disease Quality Improvement Collaborative Project” which was implemented from October 2020 to October 2022 in targeted seven districts.
Project Lead for the Foundation, Dr. Eddie Richard Matiya, said the project’s main objective remains to improve quality models to enhance outcomes of the advanced HIV disease program by defining and scaling up practical models for providing access to advanced HIV disease services for people living with HIV in Malawi.
Matiya said the project also seeks to improve screening of people with advanced HIV in their communities by strengthening the implementation of services for Advanced HIV disease in selected facilities in Malawi.
“We are encouraging the use of Advanced HIV Disease-specific Quality Improvement tools and processes to support national scale-up and screening, diagnosis, and treatment of Advanced HIV Diseases,” he said.
He said they are more concerned with patients with advanced HIV because they are at a higher risk of catching other diseases such as Tuberculosis, meningitis, and bacterial infections which are the leading cause of deaths.
“The project targets 41 health centers. These facilities have improved screening for opportunistic diseases where the patients are put on early treatment.
“Therefore, the type of care provided in these health centers is to be used as a model of care for patients with advanced HIV disease,” Matiya said.
The pilot project was implemented in seven districts of Karonga, Mzimba North, Nkhotakota, Mangochi, Dedza, Ntcheu, and Mchinji. The current project will run from 2023 to 2024.
Speaking Friday, when some of the Malawi Health Equity Network (MEHN) officials visited Mkamaumoza Health Post to monitor mother care groups’ activities, Secretary for Kandazgewe Mother Care Group, Wezi Sanga said the group hatched the idea of constructing the facility after being trained by MEHN.
Sanga said commended the District Health Office for Mzimba for providing the facility with a refrigerator for vaccine storage.
“We are currently in the process of constructing a house for our Disease Surveillance Assistant who is currently temporarily staying in a teacher’s house,” said Sanga
She said the number of parents who deny their children from getting immunized has tremendously reduced as the facility is brought to their doorstep.
“We are excited that with the knowledge which we got from MEHN through training, we are able to follow-up households which have under five children so that no child misses any vaccine thereby increasing immunization uptake,” she said.
Health surveillance assistant for the area, Cannan Mkumbwa said the trainings which were conducted by MEHN have simplified health workers’ activities.
Mbukwa getting some vaccine from the refrigerator-Pic by Rose Cross Mahorya-Mana
“Since the mother group members sensitize people on the importance of having their under-five children immunities, we continue to register increased immunization uptake on weekly bases,” said Mkumbwa.
Assistant Project Officer for MEHN, Herbert Chakwawa said he was impressed with the community’s initiative for the improved well-being of the children and the community as a whole.
MEHN in partnership with the Ministry of Health has since 2019 been establishing mother care groups in some districts across the country.
These groups are empowered with advocacy skills and tracking immunization defaulters besides advocating for community participation in ensuring efficient health services delivery in their areas.
The organization has formed about 267 mother-care groups in Chitipa, Mzimba, Lilongwe, Blantyre, Kasungu, Dowa, Ntchisi, and Mchinji districts.
According to District Commissioner for Karonga, Rodrick Mateuma, the council has so far constructed two houses.
“The houses have been constructed at Kasantha and Mwenelondo and we intend to build more as we go along so that we reach many people with albinism in the district,” said Mateuma.
Mateuma expressed gratitude to Government for its commitment to providing funds for the project.
He appealed to community members to protect persons with albinism from any form of abuse.
One of the houses at Kasantha
The Chairperson for the Karonga Association of Persons with Albinism (APAM), Chawanangwa Nyirenda, was thankful to Government for the initiative and called for its continuity.
“A lot of people with albinism in the country live in fear because they are in houses that are unsecured. I, therefore, ask the Government to continue funding the project,” Nyirenda said.
Government plans to construct 793 houses for persons with albinism across the country.
In the vast expanse of the cosmos, humanity has always been driven by an insatiable curiosity to unravel the mysteries of the universe. Science, innovation, and space exploration stand as the pillars of our progress, propelling us into a future filled with endless possibilities. In this blog article, we delve into the thrilling world where these three elements converge, shaping the way we perceive the universe and revolutionizing the world we live in.
Innovation, the practical application of creative ideas, bridges the gap between knowledge and tangible solutions. In recent years, innovations such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy sources, and advanced healthcare systems have reshaped societies, offering glimpses into a future where the impossible becomes attainable.
Gadgets: Bridging the Gap Between Science and Society
Gadgets, the everyday marvels that shape our lives, bridge the gap between scientific discoveries and society. From smartphones and wearable devices to smart home appliances and virtual reality headsets, gadgets have become an integral part of modern existence. These devices not only facilitate communication and entertainment but also serve as essential tools for scientific research and space exploration.
Imagine a world where space tourism is as accessible as a plane ticket, where innovative gadgets enable us to explore the farthest reaches of the universe from the comfort of our homes. Picture a future where sustainable technologies mitigate the impact of climate change and preserve our planet for generations to come. This vision of the future is not a distant dream but a tangible reality on the horizon, waiting to be shaped by the brilliant minds and innovative spirit of humanity.
Innovation: Transforming Ideas into Reality
Problem-Solving: Innovation is not just about inventing new gadgets or technologies; it is primarily about creative problem-solving. Innovators identify existing challenges and develop novel solutions to address them.
Interdisciplinary Approach: Innovation flourishes when diverse minds collaborate and share their expertise. It thrives on interdisciplinary approaches that bring together individuals from various fields such as science, engineering, design, and business.
Continuous Improvement: Innovation is a dynamic and ongoing process that demands adaptability and a willingness to embrace change. Successful innovators understand the importance of continuous improvement.
As the world becomes increasingly aware of environmental issues, technology developers are focusing on creating gadgets that are not only advanced but also environmentally conscious. Solar-powered chargers, energy-efficient smart home devices, and biodegradable phone cases are just a few examples of how gadgets are evolving to reduce their ecological footprint.
These innovations represent a significant shift in the tech industry, highlighting the potential for gadgets to not only improve our daily lives but also contribute positively to environmental conservation. By integrating green technologies into everyday devices, we are stepping into an era where gadgets not only bridge the gap between science and society but also play a vital role in fostering a sustainable future.
Prosecutor Sub Inspector Mankhumbo Nkhoma of Mchinji Police Station told the court that the convict had just been released from the reformatory center on related cases and had been terrorizing the district.
Nkhoma said Robert was caught with stolen items.
“It was on 11/01/2023 that the convict was caught red-handed with the stolen items after he had broken into a house at Mayard residential area in the district. After investigations instituted by police it was noted that on the first and second count, the convict committed a similar offense on 22/11/2022 and on 18/12/2022 respectively,” said Nkhoma.
Appearing in court, Robert pleaded guilty to the charge, and in mitigation asked the court for leniency saying that he is young and the breadwinner of his family.
In his submission, Prosecutor Nkhoma prayed for a stiffer punishment by sentencing the convict on three separate counts as he is posing a threat to society.
Prosecutor Nkhoma added that a stiff sentence would send a signal to the prospective criminals since such cases are rampant in the area.
Passing sentence, First Grade Magistrate Yohane Nkhata concurred with the state, hence slapped him with 11 years and 6 months jail term; which 2 years and 6 months for the first case, 4 years and 24 months on the second case, and 5 years and 24 months on the third case, all on housebreaking and theft to be served concurrently but consecutively
Chisomo Robert hails from Kamwendo Village, Traditional Authority Zulu in Mchinji District.
Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs in the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) Charles Kalemba has underscored the importance of maintaining peace during the disbursement of relief funds for the Lean season.
Kalemba made the remarks during an inspection of cash disbursement to 3049 households at Ngolowindo, Vao Vao, and Maganga primary school in the area of Traditional Authority Maganga in Salima District on Wednesday.
Each family is receiving MK50,000 for the months of January and February, initially, each household is supposed to receive K25,000 in the months of January, February, and March.
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He said the government’s wish is to alleviate hunger by assisting households with cash so that they can buy food.
“We would like to see communities make proper use of the money given to them during this exercise, and not divert the money to other use not related to food purchasing,” he said.
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He noted that in some districts reports of beneficiaries paying chiefs as a token of appreciation for being selected as beneficiaries were reaching his office.
Kalemba giving money to a beneficiary
He, therefore, warned against such practices of taking advantage of beneficiaries since they would wish to be included in similar exercises in the future.
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He encouraged the beneficiaries to work hard in their farming, so that next year they should be food secure.
District Commissioner for Salima Grace Chirwa Kanyimbiri said her office is closely monitoring the exercise so that all the intended beneficiaries receive their cash.
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She said at the moment, the district has not registered any irregularities since the disbursement commenced on 28th January 2023.
About 15,000 households from Salima district will benefit from the cash transfer after the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (Mvac) projected that 3.8 million people in Malawi will face hunger between November 2022 and March 2023.
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