Children are a precious human resource any country can boast of and it is in the children that any country has it future.
As the saying goes, "a forest without young trees today will never be a forest tomorrow" it is imperative therefore that children born today should survive, grow and develop to their fullest potential in order for us to have a prosperous nation in future.
But to the contrary, increased levels of poverty, food insecurity and various forms of abuse and deprivation are causing untold suffering to our children.
This situation has been worsened by lack of proper knowledge in recommended child caring practices that are essential for child survival growth and development.
To make matters worse the HIV/AIDS pandemic has also ravaged families leaving behind a large number of orphans and making others vulnerable because the capacity of the families and communities to cope with the impact has been weakened.
It is against this background that a childhood policy aimed at fighting disease burden dubbed Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) Policy was recently put in place by government to assist in recognising the importance of child development so that they should not only survive but also grow into productive citizens that would contribute to national development.
Through the use of IMCI approach, the policy aims to significantly scale up simple and low cost effective interventions such as immunization, Vitamin A supplementation, promotion of exclusive breastfeeding and insecticide treated nets (ITN) in order to reduce child deaths by two - thirds by the year 2015.
United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative Aida Girma says deaths of children aged 0 - 5 years is a major public health concern in Malawi and all the developing countries.
She said that though there have been improvements in child survival due to effective public health interventions and better economic and social performance world wide, globally, every year, 10.5 million children die before their fifth birthday out of which 4.4 million of these deaths occur in sub Saharan Africa.
"The majority of under five deaths are due to a small number of common, preventable and or treatable conditions. Recent studies have shown that approximately 63 percent of child deaths could be prevented by achieving universal coverage of low cost, high impact interventions," she emphasised.
She noted that though the country has made significant strides in the last few years to improve child survival the situation is still sad as every year one in eight children under the age of five still dies of a few but easily preventable and or treatable diseases.
Girma also emphasized the need to address the persistent problem of malnutrition among the children in Malawi and according to the UNICEF representative accounts for more than 50 percent child deaths in the country.
" Maternal mortality also remains very high at 982 per 100,000 live births, contributing to the high mortality among new borns while malnutrition rates have not improved since the early 1990s and close to 30,000 new borns are infected every year through the mother to child transmission of HIV," she explained.
Andrina Mchiela, Principal Secretary for Women and Child Development expressed sadness at the pace of child survival and development interventions being undertake by the country.
" The pace of implementation has not been commensurate with the deteriorating child survival indicators and deprivation the children are experiencing today. The slower we move in the implementation of our activities, the greater the number of children who are deprived of the much - needed services. Children are missing out, they are missing parental care, they are missing childhood, a future, medical care, protection and most importantly, they are missing you. In this situation, can we afford to do business as usual?" Mchiela queried.
Mchiela decried the HIV/AIDS crisis saying has made a family unit which is regarded as the best environment for child growth, care and protection very dysfunctional forcing over 8000 children resorting to seek refuge in the streets.
The principal secretary calls for concerted efforts to minimise the problem.
" Messages on child caring practises we advocate to the communities can only be reinforced and sustained if they are accompanied by a reliable service. We cannot continue to advocate drinking of safe water when safe water itself is not available. The support we provide to the communities should be based on their needs and more so building on their strengths and capabilities," she added.
You will agree with me that families and communities are already doing something to ensure that their children do survive, grow and develop into productive adults but we know that alone they cannot succeed because they need resources, support and technical assistance for them to come up with interventions for child survival and development programmes."
Implemented through components, by 2005, the IMCI strategy, adopted in Malawi in 1998 was being implemented in 18 districts and so far, only 11 districts have implemented component 3 in 39 Traditional Authorities (T/As) out of a total of 161 in the districts.
Statistics say inadequate financial resources to implement the package as a whole in all districts, acute shortage of staff at health facility level, inadequate referral and communication systems, frequent stock outs of essential drugs and supplies and inadequate coordination and inequitable allocation of resources resulting from lack of interest by partners are some of the main challenges facing dodging the programme.
Monday, 16 July 2007
Threat of Extensively Drug-Resistant TB a Reality!
In Malawi, Tuberculosis (TB) is closely linked to the HIV epidemic. Of the 28,000 cases of TB reported in the year 2005, approximately 70% of the patients tested HIV positive.
Although TB can be cured, the recent surfacing of an Extensively Drug Resistant-TB (XDR-TB) in South Africa is cause for concern.
With the current official rate of 14% HIV infection in Malawi and the link between HIV and TB, the need to put TB firmly on the political agenda of the country has become more necessary and urgent.
The government, through the Ministry of Health and the National TB Control Programme has committed to making sure that there a plan in place to respond effectively should any cases of XDR-TB surface in Malawi.
Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) an initiated component of the Malawi National TB Control Programme, seeks to create awareness, facilitate community involvement and participation and promote activities that will inform the public on the importance of adhering to treatment and medical advice for Tuberculosis in an effort to avoid the possible development of the fatal, Extremely Drug Resistant TB (XDR-TB).
Henry Chimbali, the Communications Officer of the National TB Control Program, ACSM has embarked on an advocacy campaign involving activities designed to place TB high on the political and development agenda.
The campaign also aims to increase financial and other resources on a sustainable basis as well as hold authorities to account. Additionally, the campaign seeks to ensure that pledges are fulfilled at the local level.
A major and very important part of the campaign is to prevent the possible development of the deadly XDR-TB in Malawi.
Reports indicate that XDR-TB probably developed because cases of normal TB are not treated properly. TB that is not effectively treated will resurface with resistance to the drugs used in the treatment and become Multi Drug Resistant - TB (MDR-TB). Concerns are high that XDR-TB could develop if patients are not aware of the importance of following the strict medical regime necessary to treat MDR- TB.
Records indicate that no one knows yet exactly how many cases of XDR-TB exist but surveillance shows that countries most affected by TB are those that are poor.
Chimbali told Health Check that XDR-TB mostly develops in patients who at one time used the drugs for other ailments or if they had defaulted in the treatment of TB.
However, the infection of XDR-TB is transmitted in the same way as the standard TB.
He says the intervention embarked on by ACSM seeks to prevent any possible occurrence of XDR-TB in this country and the further spread of infections should it occur.
"The program will be looking at adherence and compliance of treatment. This will be achieved by ensuring that all TB patients are under closely supervised treatment and all health workers have adequate knowledge on TB treatment guidelines. There will be a need to engage more health care providers in TB treatment monitoring, strengthening treatment monitoring systems at all levels and intensifying proper diagnosis of all TB suspect cases," Chimbali said.
He said the program is also focusing on prevention and control of the transmission of XDR-TB to health workers and the public.
"This will be achieved through early diagnosis of all TB treatment failures, relapses and tracing of all treatment defaulters and the establishment of special treatment centers for XDR-TB," said the Communications Officer.
XDR-TB is said to be very difficult to treat as it involves a regime that lasts for a long period of time. Drugs to treat the infection are extremely expensive making access to treatment of XDR-TB impossible for many under-privileged people.
Being diagnosed with the infection can be potentially fatal and many people risk losing their lives if diagnosed with the infection because they cannot afford to access treatment.
"Symptoms of XDR-TB are the same as those of any kind of tuberculosis; the only difference is that the particular mycobacterium cannot be killed by any drugs we have today. XDR-TB can only be determined in laboratories, but results take 6-16 weeks to obtain. The treatment is expensive because you need experts to handle the patient who will need to be quarantined," said Chimbali.
During the last decade there has been an increase of TB infections as an opportunistic infection in people with HIV because of their weakened immune systems. This is causing concern in the light of XDR-TB surfacing because interventions such as advocacy, communication and social mobilization in the prevention of the XDR-TB in Malawi, may be challenged in cases where people living with HIV are also found with Tuberculosis.
Although TB can be cured, the recent surfacing of an Extensively Drug Resistant-TB (XDR-TB) in South Africa is cause for concern.
With the current official rate of 14% HIV infection in Malawi and the link between HIV and TB, the need to put TB firmly on the political agenda of the country has become more necessary and urgent.
The government, through the Ministry of Health and the National TB Control Programme has committed to making sure that there a plan in place to respond effectively should any cases of XDR-TB surface in Malawi.
Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) an initiated component of the Malawi National TB Control Programme, seeks to create awareness, facilitate community involvement and participation and promote activities that will inform the public on the importance of adhering to treatment and medical advice for Tuberculosis in an effort to avoid the possible development of the fatal, Extremely Drug Resistant TB (XDR-TB).
Henry Chimbali, the Communications Officer of the National TB Control Program, ACSM has embarked on an advocacy campaign involving activities designed to place TB high on the political and development agenda.
The campaign also aims to increase financial and other resources on a sustainable basis as well as hold authorities to account. Additionally, the campaign seeks to ensure that pledges are fulfilled at the local level.
A major and very important part of the campaign is to prevent the possible development of the deadly XDR-TB in Malawi.
Reports indicate that XDR-TB probably developed because cases of normal TB are not treated properly. TB that is not effectively treated will resurface with resistance to the drugs used in the treatment and become Multi Drug Resistant - TB (MDR-TB). Concerns are high that XDR-TB could develop if patients are not aware of the importance of following the strict medical regime necessary to treat MDR- TB.
Records indicate that no one knows yet exactly how many cases of XDR-TB exist but surveillance shows that countries most affected by TB are those that are poor.
Chimbali told Health Check that XDR-TB mostly develops in patients who at one time used the drugs for other ailments or if they had defaulted in the treatment of TB.
However, the infection of XDR-TB is transmitted in the same way as the standard TB.
He says the intervention embarked on by ACSM seeks to prevent any possible occurrence of XDR-TB in this country and the further spread of infections should it occur.
"The program will be looking at adherence and compliance of treatment. This will be achieved by ensuring that all TB patients are under closely supervised treatment and all health workers have adequate knowledge on TB treatment guidelines. There will be a need to engage more health care providers in TB treatment monitoring, strengthening treatment monitoring systems at all levels and intensifying proper diagnosis of all TB suspect cases," Chimbali said.
He said the program is also focusing on prevention and control of the transmission of XDR-TB to health workers and the public.
"This will be achieved through early diagnosis of all TB treatment failures, relapses and tracing of all treatment defaulters and the establishment of special treatment centers for XDR-TB," said the Communications Officer.
XDR-TB is said to be very difficult to treat as it involves a regime that lasts for a long period of time. Drugs to treat the infection are extremely expensive making access to treatment of XDR-TB impossible for many under-privileged people.
Being diagnosed with the infection can be potentially fatal and many people risk losing their lives if diagnosed with the infection because they cannot afford to access treatment.
"Symptoms of XDR-TB are the same as those of any kind of tuberculosis; the only difference is that the particular mycobacterium cannot be killed by any drugs we have today. XDR-TB can only be determined in laboratories, but results take 6-16 weeks to obtain. The treatment is expensive because you need experts to handle the patient who will need to be quarantined," said Chimbali.
During the last decade there has been an increase of TB infections as an opportunistic infection in people with HIV because of their weakened immune systems. This is causing concern in the light of XDR-TB surfacing because interventions such as advocacy, communication and social mobilization in the prevention of the XDR-TB in Malawi, may be challenged in cases where people living with HIV are also found with Tuberculosis.
Malawi and Mozambique embark on cross-border telecoms survey
The Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL) and Mozambique’s Telecommunicacoes de Mozambique (TDM) said Monday that they had jointly embarked on a cross-border fibre optic cable interconnection survey to identify the possibility of boost interconnectivity between the two neighbours.
MTL Chief Technology Officer Peter Boll said the Mwanza-Zobue Telecommunications Project which will cost 3.6 billion kwacha (US$25 million) to connect the two countries and eventually the rest of the world.
Boll said the implementation of the project and the main construction work would start towards the end of 2007.
"The project will improve the capacity and quality of communication, and therefore allow Malawi to connect through the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSY)
Boll said once completed, the network would cut the cost of telecommunication services and television operators would also benefit from the quality signals.
Mozambique’s TDM Head of Technical Planning Division Moises Alexandre Nhabanga said the project was a welcome idea as it would form part of the broadband network.
Other connections include the capital Lilongwe line to Malawi’s western district of Mchinji linking with Zambia, and the Malawi northern city of Mzuzu to connect with the northern district of Karonga on border with Tanzania for connections to Dar-es-Salaam, the latter’s commercial city.
MTL Chief Technology Officer Peter Boll said the Mwanza-Zobue Telecommunications Project which will cost 3.6 billion kwacha (US$25 million) to connect the two countries and eventually the rest of the world.
Boll said the implementation of the project and the main construction work would start towards the end of 2007.
"The project will improve the capacity and quality of communication, and therefore allow Malawi to connect through the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSY)
Boll said once completed, the network would cut the cost of telecommunication services and television operators would also benefit from the quality signals.
Mozambique’s TDM Head of Technical Planning Division Moises Alexandre Nhabanga said the project was a welcome idea as it would form part of the broadband network.
Other connections include the capital Lilongwe line to Malawi’s western district of Mchinji linking with Zambia, and the Malawi northern city of Mzuzu to connect with the northern district of Karonga on border with Tanzania for connections to Dar-es-Salaam, the latter’s commercial city.
When VCT Becomes "Compulsory"
When 30-year-old Margaret Fombezi* went for Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) two years ago, two things had compelled her to do so: frequent attacks of some opportunistic diseases and the presence of the Anti-retroviral therapy incase of one testing HIV positive.
Margaret was not, in any way whatsoever, forced by anyone to go for VCT. What she had read and heard about HIV/AIDS through different media and literature was enough to make her realize that having one's blood tested for HIV is not only important but necessary and logical too especially in the advent of the life prolonging drugs ARVs.
"VCT as the term implies is not compulsory," explains Fombezi, "you can choose to go for it or not. But then come to think of it: there's this chance of having the quality of one's life improved when infected with the HIV but the catch is that you must have your blood tested for the virus first.
"So in my opinion, lateral thinking would rather not let one perish in the dark than come in the open by having their blood tested so as to have access to the drugs, special care and counseling services available in the country," observes the Lilongwe-based Fombezi.
Looking back today, Fombezi, who tested positive and she is now on Anti-retroviral therapy, shudders at the thought of what would have been the situation had she not plucked up courage and gone for VCT. The exercise, explains the young lady, gave her "the passport to access the ARVs, the drug that does not only prolong one's life but improves the quality of it too.
The knowledge of her status has enabled Fombezi to cast away fear, contain the situation and face the situation with a positive attitude courtesy of a number of care service providers available in the country.
"With the proper counseling, advice on diet and other care services my perception of HIV/AIDS is not that of a deadly disease but a chronic disease whose full effect can only be cushioned by ARVs among other things," she explains.
While government and organizations are doing all they can to encourage the masses for VCT, the majority of the public is still cold on its feet, a development that the National AIDS Commission describes as being a "great threat" to the fight against the pandemic.
"There are about 6 million sexually active adults and out of these only 15% are tested for HIV and know their status," observes NAC in its write-up following the HIV Testing week held in the first week of August 2006. The write-up continues: "It is estimated that nearly 930 000 people in the country are living with HIV/AIDS but the overwhelming majority of this population remain unaware of their status which is a great threat to prevention efforts and strategies as the infected miss the opportunity to access treatment, regular care and support services available."
The HIV Testing Week, a government innovation conceived in a bid to woo the public to go for VCT, revealed that, given the opportunity many people would go for VCT so tha they know their status.
Margaret was not, in any way whatsoever, forced by anyone to go for VCT. What she had read and heard about HIV/AIDS through different media and literature was enough to make her realize that having one's blood tested for HIV is not only important but necessary and logical too especially in the advent of the life prolonging drugs ARVs.
"VCT as the term implies is not compulsory," explains Fombezi, "you can choose to go for it or not. But then come to think of it: there's this chance of having the quality of one's life improved when infected with the HIV but the catch is that you must have your blood tested for the virus first.
"So in my opinion, lateral thinking would rather not let one perish in the dark than come in the open by having their blood tested so as to have access to the drugs, special care and counseling services available in the country," observes the Lilongwe-based Fombezi.
Looking back today, Fombezi, who tested positive and she is now on Anti-retroviral therapy, shudders at the thought of what would have been the situation had she not plucked up courage and gone for VCT. The exercise, explains the young lady, gave her "the passport to access the ARVs, the drug that does not only prolong one's life but improves the quality of it too.
The knowledge of her status has enabled Fombezi to cast away fear, contain the situation and face the situation with a positive attitude courtesy of a number of care service providers available in the country.
"With the proper counseling, advice on diet and other care services my perception of HIV/AIDS is not that of a deadly disease but a chronic disease whose full effect can only be cushioned by ARVs among other things," she explains.
While government and organizations are doing all they can to encourage the masses for VCT, the majority of the public is still cold on its feet, a development that the National AIDS Commission describes as being a "great threat" to the fight against the pandemic.
"There are about 6 million sexually active adults and out of these only 15% are tested for HIV and know their status," observes NAC in its write-up following the HIV Testing week held in the first week of August 2006. The write-up continues: "It is estimated that nearly 930 000 people in the country are living with HIV/AIDS but the overwhelming majority of this population remain unaware of their status which is a great threat to prevention efforts and strategies as the infected miss the opportunity to access treatment, regular care and support services available."
The HIV Testing Week, a government innovation conceived in a bid to woo the public to go for VCT, revealed that, given the opportunity many people would go for VCT so tha they know their status.
Sacrificing a Bright Future for Early Parenthood
The effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic continue long after the death of parents and caregivers. Many extended family support systems have collapsed due to the loss of older members of the family who would have taken over the responsibility of caring for orphaned children.
This has left entire households to be cared for by children making them take on adult responsibilities that are way beyond their means and their tender ages.
At the age of 15, Ndachimwanji Florence Kachelenga is a mother of two, not by choice but due to some circumstantial mishap, not rape or premarital pregnancy but undeniably, through self-sacrifice.
In the hope of improving her difficult situation, she dropped out of primary school last year when she was in standard five to support her younger sister and brother after both parents her parents died.
People in Ndimbule village in Traditional Authority Mpama escorted the remains of Ndachimwanji's father in the year 2000 and mother in the year 2006 for burial. Both had succumbed of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Days after her mother died, the little girl realized that there was nobody else to take care of the family. The small capital that her late father had invested in his business of dried fish, and later diverted by the mother into a snacks business, had been consumed at the mother's funeral.
One of her older sisters, Mwaiwawo (now 19), was taken by their aunt for support while the eldest and first-born sister got married. She is unable to offer any support to the three younger ones and says her husband is a drunkard and does not know his responsibility, even to his own family.
Ndachimwanji now has the responsibility of taking care and supporting herself, younger sister Sungeni (12) who is now in standard three a last-born brother named Light (10) who is also in standard three.
"Every morning I have to make sure that the little ones have had a bath, eat breakfast, dress in good clothes, and get their school items like books and pencils ready to go to school. I have to provide food and other basic needs for them when they come back from school and have to provide medical care when one of them falls sick," says Ndachimwanji as she likes to be called.
Ndimbule village lies in the interior part of Chiradzulu district in the southern part of Malawi. About six kilometers off Chiradzulu road setting off from Mbulumbudzi Trading Center, this is along the road from Blantyre to Zomba. Though one has to take footpaths to reach the village, there is about 15 kilometers between the village and Chiradzulu Mountain beside which lies the district's offices and a small trading center.
Ndachimwanji walks to the mountain to collect firewood that she sells to people in her village and uses the money for the family upkeep.
Ndachimwanji says she would like to go back to school but with no relative to take care of her and her siblings, this will remain just another dream for her.
Sadly the plight of Ndachimwanji, is not unique in any way. She is but one of the many young girls her age and younger who have had to sacrifice their own future in order to give bothers and sisters a chance of a better life.
Although the United Nations has put in place the Millennium Development Goal (MGD) Number 2 in order to address issues of primary school education for children, Nadachimwanji is not going to benefit from this goal because there is no-one else to take on the responsibility of the other children or to support her financially.
Goal number 2 of the MDGs signed by the Malawi government in 2000 aims to achieve universal primary education for all children and the target is to "ensure that by 2015, children everywhere boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling"
According to the Malawi MDG report of 2003, the feasibility of the country achieving the target is only probable and systems in place to support the achievement are not that encouraging when explained as being just "fair".
Although registration was high when free primary school education was first offered, this was negated by the "drop out" rate.
The report also states that the higher the standard, more girls drop out of school because of the negative attitudes of educating girls, lack of food and cloths, finances and early pregnancies.
Malawi has a current official rate of 14% HIV prevalence that indicates the decline of new HIV infections. However, the effects of the HIV/AIDS within society will continue to surface and continue to be a challenge to government, policy makers and society in general for a long while to come.
This has left entire households to be cared for by children making them take on adult responsibilities that are way beyond their means and their tender ages.
At the age of 15, Ndachimwanji Florence Kachelenga is a mother of two, not by choice but due to some circumstantial mishap, not rape or premarital pregnancy but undeniably, through self-sacrifice.
In the hope of improving her difficult situation, she dropped out of primary school last year when she was in standard five to support her younger sister and brother after both parents her parents died.
People in Ndimbule village in Traditional Authority Mpama escorted the remains of Ndachimwanji's father in the year 2000 and mother in the year 2006 for burial. Both had succumbed of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Days after her mother died, the little girl realized that there was nobody else to take care of the family. The small capital that her late father had invested in his business of dried fish, and later diverted by the mother into a snacks business, had been consumed at the mother's funeral.
One of her older sisters, Mwaiwawo (now 19), was taken by their aunt for support while the eldest and first-born sister got married. She is unable to offer any support to the three younger ones and says her husband is a drunkard and does not know his responsibility, even to his own family.
Ndachimwanji now has the responsibility of taking care and supporting herself, younger sister Sungeni (12) who is now in standard three a last-born brother named Light (10) who is also in standard three.
"Every morning I have to make sure that the little ones have had a bath, eat breakfast, dress in good clothes, and get their school items like books and pencils ready to go to school. I have to provide food and other basic needs for them when they come back from school and have to provide medical care when one of them falls sick," says Ndachimwanji as she likes to be called.
Ndimbule village lies in the interior part of Chiradzulu district in the southern part of Malawi. About six kilometers off Chiradzulu road setting off from Mbulumbudzi Trading Center, this is along the road from Blantyre to Zomba. Though one has to take footpaths to reach the village, there is about 15 kilometers between the village and Chiradzulu Mountain beside which lies the district's offices and a small trading center.
Ndachimwanji walks to the mountain to collect firewood that she sells to people in her village and uses the money for the family upkeep.
Ndachimwanji says she would like to go back to school but with no relative to take care of her and her siblings, this will remain just another dream for her.
Sadly the plight of Ndachimwanji, is not unique in any way. She is but one of the many young girls her age and younger who have had to sacrifice their own future in order to give bothers and sisters a chance of a better life.
Although the United Nations has put in place the Millennium Development Goal (MGD) Number 2 in order to address issues of primary school education for children, Nadachimwanji is not going to benefit from this goal because there is no-one else to take on the responsibility of the other children or to support her financially.
Goal number 2 of the MDGs signed by the Malawi government in 2000 aims to achieve universal primary education for all children and the target is to "ensure that by 2015, children everywhere boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling"
According to the Malawi MDG report of 2003, the feasibility of the country achieving the target is only probable and systems in place to support the achievement are not that encouraging when explained as being just "fair".
Although registration was high when free primary school education was first offered, this was negated by the "drop out" rate.
The report also states that the higher the standard, more girls drop out of school because of the negative attitudes of educating girls, lack of food and cloths, finances and early pregnancies.
Malawi has a current official rate of 14% HIV prevalence that indicates the decline of new HIV infections. However, the effects of the HIV/AIDS within society will continue to surface and continue to be a challenge to government, policy makers and society in general for a long while to come.
Rescuing Children From Malaria
The country continues to lose many children in the under five period on daily basis due to rising cases of malaria.
This is but a danger not a joke to all the concerned stakeholders who have the welfare of children at heart.
At a time when countries are anxiously waiting for Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACT), a new malaria drug yet to hit the market, government is on the other hand encouraging the use of Dichrolo Diphenil Trichroloethane (DDT) in the country to try minimise the figures of children that are dying from the disease, but there are divisions in the use of the chemical because some quarters blame DDT as being non bio-degradable and a source of pollution.
Tobacco bodies such as Tobacco Association of Malawi (TAMA) are against the use of DDT in wiping out malaria saying it would compromise with the quality and purity of the countries greatest forex earner, tobacco leaf.
Director of Preventive Health Services Dr. Habib Somanje defends government decision to use DDT to destroy malaria, arguing that it (DDT) shall only be used in indoor sprays.
Somanje observes that DDT can reduce malaria drastically as it sticks to walls for many weeks, thereby curbing malaria and saving the lives of children.
" Malaria contributes to highest deaths in children, its hard to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), malarial control strategies such as use f ITN's have been devised. UN and bilateral partners call for malarial control strategies using ITNs and indoor chemical sprays," underlines Somanje.
According to statistics 40 percent of all deaths in children are caused by malaria, as established in 2000 report by the World Bank.
Poor hygiene, lack of access to health facilities and non-compliance to health worker advice are some of the factors blamed for most of the childhood illnesses especially malaria.
Almost 35 percent of children in the country are sleeping under insecticide treated nets (ITN) based on ministry of health statistics.
The Integrated Management Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) policy that was launched by government recently aims to help accelerate child survival and development in the country among other things calls for protection of all under five children from malaria by ensuring that they (children) regularly sleep under insecticide treated nets.
It is also a prerequisite for caregivers to re treat the ITNs at least once a year.
National Malaria Control Program Director Dr Storn Kabuluzi indicates that DDT is the cheapest means of fighting malaria through insecticide residual spray (IRS).
" Malaria remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the country, all people are at risk o suffering from malaria including the under five," Kabuluzi emphasises.
Minister of Health Marjorie Ngaunje observes that Malawi is amongst few countries in the sub Saharan Africa to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that aims at reducing infant mortality deaths.
Ngaunje said in an attempt to fight malaria among the children her ministry is distributing free ITNs at least to every household in the country.
" Over 1 million insecticide treated nets have so far been distributed. Currently the ministry of health has also procured large supplies of drugs and pharmaceuticals to fight malaria," stresses Ngaunje.
World Health Organisation (WHO) Malawi office supports the use of DDT in controlling malaria and says 500 million have been saved over the last 70 years experience and has accelerated economic development in Malawi free zones.
In Venenzuela (South America) 8 million cases of malaria have been reduced within 4 years of application of DDT.
WHO adds that DDT has no health or environmental risks when used in insecticide residual spray (IRS) method.
WHO says there is no convincing evidence of adverse effects o DDT exposure including toxicological grounds.
However, more stakeholders are of the view that children can be protected from malaria if DDT is used and want Malawi to be a registered DDT user.
They also call for the development of a cabinet paper registration with the pesticide board, resource mobilization, conduction of an operational research and the establishment of a multi sector task force to supervise the use of DDT to combat malaria.
This is but a danger not a joke to all the concerned stakeholders who have the welfare of children at heart.
At a time when countries are anxiously waiting for Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACT), a new malaria drug yet to hit the market, government is on the other hand encouraging the use of Dichrolo Diphenil Trichroloethane (DDT) in the country to try minimise the figures of children that are dying from the disease, but there are divisions in the use of the chemical because some quarters blame DDT as being non bio-degradable and a source of pollution.
Tobacco bodies such as Tobacco Association of Malawi (TAMA) are against the use of DDT in wiping out malaria saying it would compromise with the quality and purity of the countries greatest forex earner, tobacco leaf.
Director of Preventive Health Services Dr. Habib Somanje defends government decision to use DDT to destroy malaria, arguing that it (DDT) shall only be used in indoor sprays.
Somanje observes that DDT can reduce malaria drastically as it sticks to walls for many weeks, thereby curbing malaria and saving the lives of children.
" Malaria contributes to highest deaths in children, its hard to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), malarial control strategies such as use f ITN's have been devised. UN and bilateral partners call for malarial control strategies using ITNs and indoor chemical sprays," underlines Somanje.
According to statistics 40 percent of all deaths in children are caused by malaria, as established in 2000 report by the World Bank.
Poor hygiene, lack of access to health facilities and non-compliance to health worker advice are some of the factors blamed for most of the childhood illnesses especially malaria.
Almost 35 percent of children in the country are sleeping under insecticide treated nets (ITN) based on ministry of health statistics.
The Integrated Management Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) policy that was launched by government recently aims to help accelerate child survival and development in the country among other things calls for protection of all under five children from malaria by ensuring that they (children) regularly sleep under insecticide treated nets.
It is also a prerequisite for caregivers to re treat the ITNs at least once a year.
National Malaria Control Program Director Dr Storn Kabuluzi indicates that DDT is the cheapest means of fighting malaria through insecticide residual spray (IRS).
" Malaria remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the country, all people are at risk o suffering from malaria including the under five," Kabuluzi emphasises.
Minister of Health Marjorie Ngaunje observes that Malawi is amongst few countries in the sub Saharan Africa to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that aims at reducing infant mortality deaths.
Ngaunje said in an attempt to fight malaria among the children her ministry is distributing free ITNs at least to every household in the country.
" Over 1 million insecticide treated nets have so far been distributed. Currently the ministry of health has also procured large supplies of drugs and pharmaceuticals to fight malaria," stresses Ngaunje.
World Health Organisation (WHO) Malawi office supports the use of DDT in controlling malaria and says 500 million have been saved over the last 70 years experience and has accelerated economic development in Malawi free zones.
In Venenzuela (South America) 8 million cases of malaria have been reduced within 4 years of application of DDT.
WHO adds that DDT has no health or environmental risks when used in insecticide residual spray (IRS) method.
WHO says there is no convincing evidence of adverse effects o DDT exposure including toxicological grounds.
However, more stakeholders are of the view that children can be protected from malaria if DDT is used and want Malawi to be a registered DDT user.
They also call for the development of a cabinet paper registration with the pesticide board, resource mobilization, conduction of an operational research and the establishment of a multi sector task force to supervise the use of DDT to combat malaria.
The country continues to lose many children in the under five period on daily basis due to rising cases of malaria.
This is but a danger not a joke to all the concerned stakeholders who have the welfare of children at heart.
At a time when countries are anxiously waiting for Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACT), a new malaria drug yet to hit the market, government is on the other hand encouraging the use of Dichrolo Diphenil Trichroloethane (DDT) in the country to try minimise the figures of children that are dying from the disease, but there are divisions in the use of the chemical because some quarters blame DDT as being non bio-degradable and a source of pollution.
Tobacco bodies such as Tobacco Association of Malawi (TAMA) are against the use of DDT in wiping out malaria saying it would compromise with the quality and purity of the countries greatest forex earner, tobacco leaf.
Director of Preventive Health Services Dr. Habib Somanje defends government decision to use DDT to destroy malaria, arguing that it (DDT) shall only be used in indoor sprays.
Somanje observes that DDT can reduce malaria drastically as it sticks to walls for many weeks, thereby curbing malaria and saving the lives of children.
" Malaria contributes to highest deaths in children, its hard to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), malarial control strategies such as use f ITN's have been devised. UN and bilateral partners call for malarial control strategies using ITNs and indoor chemical sprays," underlines Somanje.
According to statistics 40 percent of all deaths in children are caused by malaria, as established in 2000 report by the World Bank.
Poor hygiene, lack of access to health facilities and non-compliance to health worker advice are some of the factors blamed for most of the childhood illnesses especially malaria.
Almost 35 percent of children in the country are sleeping under insecticide treated nets (ITN) based on ministry of health statistics.
The Integrated Management Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) policy that was launched by government recently aims to help accelerate child survival and development in the country among other things calls for protection of all under five children from malaria by ensuring that they (children) regularly sleep under insecticide treated nets.
It is also a prerequisite for caregivers to re treat the ITNs at least once a year.
National Malaria Control Program Director Dr Storn Kabuluzi indicates that DDT is the cheapest means of fighting malaria through insecticide residual spray (IRS).
" Malaria remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the country, all people are at risk o suffering from malaria including the under five," Kabuluzi emphasises.
Minister of Health Marjorie Ngaunje observes that Malawi is amongst few countries in the sub Saharan Africa to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that aims at reducing infant mortality deaths.
Ngaunje said in an attempt to fight malaria among the children her ministry is distributing free ITNs at least to every household in the country.
" Over 1 million insecticide treated nets have so far been distributed. Currently the ministry of health has also procured large supplies of drugs and pharmaceuticals to fight malaria," stresses Ngaunje.
World Health Organisation (WHO) Malawi office supports the use of DDT in controlling malaria and says 500 million have been saved over the last 70 years experience and has accelerated economic development in Malawi free zones.
In Venenzuela (South America) 8 million cases of malaria have been reduced within 4 years of application of DDT.
WHO adds that DDT has no health or environmental risks when used in insecticide residual spray (IRS) method.
WHO says there is no convincing evidence of adverse effects o DDT exposure including toxicological grounds.
However, more stakeholders are of the view that children can be protected from malaria if DDT is used and want Malawi to be a registered DDT user.
They also call for the development of a cabinet paper registration with the pesticide board, resource mobilization, conduction of an operational research and the establishment of a multi sector task force to supervise the use of DDT to combat malaria.
This is but a danger not a joke to all the concerned stakeholders who have the welfare of children at heart.
At a time when countries are anxiously waiting for Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACT), a new malaria drug yet to hit the market, government is on the other hand encouraging the use of Dichrolo Diphenil Trichroloethane (DDT) in the country to try minimise the figures of children that are dying from the disease, but there are divisions in the use of the chemical because some quarters blame DDT as being non bio-degradable and a source of pollution.
Tobacco bodies such as Tobacco Association of Malawi (TAMA) are against the use of DDT in wiping out malaria saying it would compromise with the quality and purity of the countries greatest forex earner, tobacco leaf.
Director of Preventive Health Services Dr. Habib Somanje defends government decision to use DDT to destroy malaria, arguing that it (DDT) shall only be used in indoor sprays.
Somanje observes that DDT can reduce malaria drastically as it sticks to walls for many weeks, thereby curbing malaria and saving the lives of children.
" Malaria contributes to highest deaths in children, its hard to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), malarial control strategies such as use f ITN's have been devised. UN and bilateral partners call for malarial control strategies using ITNs and indoor chemical sprays," underlines Somanje.
According to statistics 40 percent of all deaths in children are caused by malaria, as established in 2000 report by the World Bank.
Poor hygiene, lack of access to health facilities and non-compliance to health worker advice are some of the factors blamed for most of the childhood illnesses especially malaria.
Almost 35 percent of children in the country are sleeping under insecticide treated nets (ITN) based on ministry of health statistics.
The Integrated Management Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) policy that was launched by government recently aims to help accelerate child survival and development in the country among other things calls for protection of all under five children from malaria by ensuring that they (children) regularly sleep under insecticide treated nets.
It is also a prerequisite for caregivers to re treat the ITNs at least once a year.
National Malaria Control Program Director Dr Storn Kabuluzi indicates that DDT is the cheapest means of fighting malaria through insecticide residual spray (IRS).
" Malaria remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the country, all people are at risk o suffering from malaria including the under five," Kabuluzi emphasises.
Minister of Health Marjorie Ngaunje observes that Malawi is amongst few countries in the sub Saharan Africa to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that aims at reducing infant mortality deaths.
Ngaunje said in an attempt to fight malaria among the children her ministry is distributing free ITNs at least to every household in the country.
" Over 1 million insecticide treated nets have so far been distributed. Currently the ministry of health has also procured large supplies of drugs and pharmaceuticals to fight malaria," stresses Ngaunje.
World Health Organisation (WHO) Malawi office supports the use of DDT in controlling malaria and says 500 million have been saved over the last 70 years experience and has accelerated economic development in Malawi free zones.
In Venenzuela (South America) 8 million cases of malaria have been reduced within 4 years of application of DDT.
WHO adds that DDT has no health or environmental risks when used in insecticide residual spray (IRS) method.
WHO says there is no convincing evidence of adverse effects o DDT exposure including toxicological grounds.
However, more stakeholders are of the view that children can be protected from malaria if DDT is used and want Malawi to be a registered DDT user.
They also call for the development of a cabinet paper registration with the pesticide board, resource mobilization, conduction of an operational research and the establishment of a multi sector task force to supervise the use of DDT to combat malaria.
Repositioning Family Planning - Choice, Not Chance
Family planning saves lives and has long been considered a key aspect to socioeconomic development. Although this is widely acknowledged and well documented, the attention and resources directed toward improving family planning programs in developing countries have been decreasing, even though need remains high.
This is particularly true for Sub-Saharan Africa; for the region as a whole, only 14% of women are using modern methods of contraception (PRB, 2004). To address this need, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has identified Repositioning Family Planning as a priority for its work in Africa.
A three-person team conducted interviews and site visits in Malawi interviewing 42 key informants, visiting health facilities, and holding group discussions with community-based distribution agents and family planning clients.
Family planning has been remarkably successful in Malawi, particularly considering the constraints faced in the country. Malawi's contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) for modern methods increased from 7.4% to 26.1% between 1992 and 2000, despite high rates of poverty, low rates of literacy, a predominately rural population (86%), and an HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 14% in its adult population. It is particularly impressive to note that gains in CPR cut across the economic spectrum.
Although family planning had essentially been banned under President Hastings Kamuzu Banda (1964-1994), "child-spacing" had been adopted as an integral part of the maternal and child health program in the 1980s, emphasizing the health problems that women faced when pregnancies were too early, too many, too late, and too frequent. The change in the political system from an essentially totalitarian government to multi-party democracy meant that the words "family planning" could be used and that more intensive policy and programmatic activities could be undertaken.
As a result, the number of facilities providing family planning increased from two clinics in 1983 to 210 out of 742 sites in 1995; now, family planning is almost universally available.
A 1994 study identified a number of factors that limited access, including the fact that only 28% of facilities offered family planning services on a daily basis. After this, access was improved by ensuring that services were offered five days a week and for free. Malawi has had a good mix of both public and private services and both clinic and community-based services. In particular, Banja la Mtsogolo (BLM), a nongovernmental organization (NGO) with a network of 29 clinics and extensive outreach efforts, has played a significant role in expanding access to reproductive health services. BLM's subsidy fund helps to keep services affordable for poorer clients. When this was removed in 2000, utilization of family planning services dropped dramatically, but when the subsidy fund was restored in 2002, the number of family planning clients increased significantly.
Supply-side interventions focused on improving the contraceptive logistics and supplies through the introduction in 1997 of the Contraceptive Distribution Logistics Management Information System (CDLMIS), the training of providers, and the development and dissemination of service-delivery policies and guidelines. These 1992 guidelines removed barriers of spousal consent, age, and parity and allowed a wider range of cadres to offer various services.
On the demand side, multiple channels of communication in multiple languages were effectively used, including radio jingles, posters, dramas, health talks, and communitybased distribution (CBD) activities, so that Malawi was "flooded with IEC messages."
One reason for the effectiveness of these messages is that they were developed through consultation with communities, "asking them to analyze the situation. They talked about all these problems they had because of too many children," problems that included land disputes and disputes between husbands and wives.
Community-based distribution agents (CBDAs) began in Malawi in the late 1980s and have been a key contributor to the success of family planning in the country: "If we didn't have CBDAs, we wouldn't have made the headway that we managed." In a country where the majority of the population lives in rural areas, often far from health facilities, CBD has been essential to making services more convenient: "We need the CBDAs - people would rather have a child than queue for hours." In addition to directly providing pills and condoms, CBDAs also help to raise awareness and normalize the idea of family planning and serve as referral agents, in many cases even escorting women to clinics for services. Focus-group discussions in 2002 found that CBDAs were highly praised for giving clear explanations and for helping to overcome difficulties with hospital providers
CBDAs talk about the satisfaction of helping their communities, but they need more of an incentive than this to continue with their work. A 1999-2003 project that implemented district-wide CBD programs in three districts led to an increase in contraceptive prevalence from 24% to 36%, and project staff believed that "the incentives are what made the project successful."
The provision of bicycles was a particularly effective incentive, as well as refresher courses.
This is particularly true for Sub-Saharan Africa; for the region as a whole, only 14% of women are using modern methods of contraception (PRB, 2004). To address this need, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has identified Repositioning Family Planning as a priority for its work in Africa.
A three-person team conducted interviews and site visits in Malawi interviewing 42 key informants, visiting health facilities, and holding group discussions with community-based distribution agents and family planning clients.
Family planning has been remarkably successful in Malawi, particularly considering the constraints faced in the country. Malawi's contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) for modern methods increased from 7.4% to 26.1% between 1992 and 2000, despite high rates of poverty, low rates of literacy, a predominately rural population (86%), and an HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 14% in its adult population. It is particularly impressive to note that gains in CPR cut across the economic spectrum.
Although family planning had essentially been banned under President Hastings Kamuzu Banda (1964-1994), "child-spacing" had been adopted as an integral part of the maternal and child health program in the 1980s, emphasizing the health problems that women faced when pregnancies were too early, too many, too late, and too frequent. The change in the political system from an essentially totalitarian government to multi-party democracy meant that the words "family planning" could be used and that more intensive policy and programmatic activities could be undertaken.
As a result, the number of facilities providing family planning increased from two clinics in 1983 to 210 out of 742 sites in 1995; now, family planning is almost universally available.
A 1994 study identified a number of factors that limited access, including the fact that only 28% of facilities offered family planning services on a daily basis. After this, access was improved by ensuring that services were offered five days a week and for free. Malawi has had a good mix of both public and private services and both clinic and community-based services. In particular, Banja la Mtsogolo (BLM), a nongovernmental organization (NGO) with a network of 29 clinics and extensive outreach efforts, has played a significant role in expanding access to reproductive health services. BLM's subsidy fund helps to keep services affordable for poorer clients. When this was removed in 2000, utilization of family planning services dropped dramatically, but when the subsidy fund was restored in 2002, the number of family planning clients increased significantly.
Supply-side interventions focused on improving the contraceptive logistics and supplies through the introduction in 1997 of the Contraceptive Distribution Logistics Management Information System (CDLMIS), the training of providers, and the development and dissemination of service-delivery policies and guidelines. These 1992 guidelines removed barriers of spousal consent, age, and parity and allowed a wider range of cadres to offer various services.
On the demand side, multiple channels of communication in multiple languages were effectively used, including radio jingles, posters, dramas, health talks, and communitybased distribution (CBD) activities, so that Malawi was "flooded with IEC messages."
One reason for the effectiveness of these messages is that they were developed through consultation with communities, "asking them to analyze the situation. They talked about all these problems they had because of too many children," problems that included land disputes and disputes between husbands and wives.
Community-based distribution agents (CBDAs) began in Malawi in the late 1980s and have been a key contributor to the success of family planning in the country: "If we didn't have CBDAs, we wouldn't have made the headway that we managed." In a country where the majority of the population lives in rural areas, often far from health facilities, CBD has been essential to making services more convenient: "We need the CBDAs - people would rather have a child than queue for hours." In addition to directly providing pills and condoms, CBDAs also help to raise awareness and normalize the idea of family planning and serve as referral agents, in many cases even escorting women to clinics for services. Focus-group discussions in 2002 found that CBDAs were highly praised for giving clear explanations and for helping to overcome difficulties with hospital providers
CBDAs talk about the satisfaction of helping their communities, but they need more of an incentive than this to continue with their work. A 1999-2003 project that implemented district-wide CBD programs in three districts led to an increase in contraceptive prevalence from 24% to 36%, and project staff believed that "the incentives are what made the project successful."
The provision of bicycles was a particularly effective incentive, as well as refresher courses.
'All-Day Electricity' - As Long As It is Not Peak Time
Patients have over many years frequently been denied scheduled surgical operations at the Holy Family Hospital in Malawi's southern region due to abrupt power cuts.
Medical personnel at the hospital have had no option but to make the sick wait for important medical procedures until the country's sole electricity utility company, Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi (ESCOM), restored the electricity.
The hospital, which caters for up to 300,000 people, had to organize a fundraising event recently to purchase a generator as backup in times of blackouts.
"For years we have had power failures. The small generator we had could not cater for procedures like surgery and other operations but now we have been rescued by the donation of a big generator," said hospital director Rutger Anten.
Like its neighbour Zimbabwe, which is experiencing frequent power cuts due to the declining capacity of old equipment and critical shortages of foreign exchange, hospitals, industries and homes in Malawi need electricity backup because the supply is unreliable.
Most homes have to fall back on candles, oil lamps and charcoal or wood stoves.
During the rainy season, ESCOM blames its failure to be a reliable utility company on river siltation caused by environmental degradation. In the dry season, the company blames the effects of drought and decreased water levels in the country's largest river, The Shire, where hydro-electric power is produced.
The electricity company says silt damages the power generation equipment while low water levels stops the equipment from generating enough power.
ESCOM Chief Executive Officer Kandi Padambo explained in February this year that the country has been coping with a shortfall of 40 megawatts since 2001 because two of its hydroelectric power stations, Tedzani I and II, had stopped working.
The ESCOM generation system has a capacity of only 245 megawatts against a load demand of up to 251 megawatts.
Padambo also announced that ESCOM was instituting a large load shedding programme to enable the maintenance of the power stations. This was budgeted for at 17 million US dollars.
"We are now committed to rehabilitating the power stations in order to reduce power-supply interruptions that occur as a result of capacity constraints," said Padambo.
But the power generation woes were far from over. Soon after Padambo's announcement, ESCOM was hit by a machine breakdown at another power station called Kapichira. This reduced the generating capacity to 192 megawatts.
To manage demand ESCOM instituted a load shedding process on a daily basis during peak hours between six and eight o'clock in the mornings and evenings. But Malawians experienced even longer periods of power-cuts with some areas going for eight hours without electricity.
The frequent electrical blackouts at night have led to a wave of theft and burglary incidents. People live in fear for their lives and property.
Police spokesperson Willie Chingwalu has assured citizens that police personnel will intensify their patrols to safeguard people and their property, especially when the power supply is interrupted.
The Consumer Association of Malawi (CAMA), a body that promotes the rights of consumers, said ESCOM's motto of "Power Everyday, All Day" is in conflict with consumer laws on advertising since the company is currently offering an inconsistent service.
CAMA spokesperson Burton Phiri said by maintaining the motto, ESCOM is insulting consumers who are being deprived of power.
"They are switching off power in the morning when households prepare for the day, making breakfast or doing the ironing or washing up. All these activities need electricity. In the evenings, people are tired and want to wind down and have dinner. It is unfair," said Phiri.
Medical personnel at the hospital have had no option but to make the sick wait for important medical procedures until the country's sole electricity utility company, Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi (ESCOM), restored the electricity.
The hospital, which caters for up to 300,000 people, had to organize a fundraising event recently to purchase a generator as backup in times of blackouts.
"For years we have had power failures. The small generator we had could not cater for procedures like surgery and other operations but now we have been rescued by the donation of a big generator," said hospital director Rutger Anten.
Like its neighbour Zimbabwe, which is experiencing frequent power cuts due to the declining capacity of old equipment and critical shortages of foreign exchange, hospitals, industries and homes in Malawi need electricity backup because the supply is unreliable.
Most homes have to fall back on candles, oil lamps and charcoal or wood stoves.
During the rainy season, ESCOM blames its failure to be a reliable utility company on river siltation caused by environmental degradation. In the dry season, the company blames the effects of drought and decreased water levels in the country's largest river, The Shire, where hydro-electric power is produced.
The electricity company says silt damages the power generation equipment while low water levels stops the equipment from generating enough power.
ESCOM Chief Executive Officer Kandi Padambo explained in February this year that the country has been coping with a shortfall of 40 megawatts since 2001 because two of its hydroelectric power stations, Tedzani I and II, had stopped working.
The ESCOM generation system has a capacity of only 245 megawatts against a load demand of up to 251 megawatts.
Padambo also announced that ESCOM was instituting a large load shedding programme to enable the maintenance of the power stations. This was budgeted for at 17 million US dollars.
"We are now committed to rehabilitating the power stations in order to reduce power-supply interruptions that occur as a result of capacity constraints," said Padambo.
But the power generation woes were far from over. Soon after Padambo's announcement, ESCOM was hit by a machine breakdown at another power station called Kapichira. This reduced the generating capacity to 192 megawatts.
To manage demand ESCOM instituted a load shedding process on a daily basis during peak hours between six and eight o'clock in the mornings and evenings. But Malawians experienced even longer periods of power-cuts with some areas going for eight hours without electricity.
The frequent electrical blackouts at night have led to a wave of theft and burglary incidents. People live in fear for their lives and property.
Police spokesperson Willie Chingwalu has assured citizens that police personnel will intensify their patrols to safeguard people and their property, especially when the power supply is interrupted.
The Consumer Association of Malawi (CAMA), a body that promotes the rights of consumers, said ESCOM's motto of "Power Everyday, All Day" is in conflict with consumer laws on advertising since the company is currently offering an inconsistent service.
CAMA spokesperson Burton Phiri said by maintaining the motto, ESCOM is insulting consumers who are being deprived of power.
"They are switching off power in the morning when households prepare for the day, making breakfast or doing the ironing or washing up. All these activities need electricity. In the evenings, people are tired and want to wind down and have dinner. It is unfair," said Phiri.
Malawian adoption official to put Madonna's marriage under the scanner
London, July 16: Madonna and hubby Guy Ritchie's marriage will be put under the scanner by Malawi's top child welfare inspector to determine if they are fit parents to David Banda.
The meeting with Penston Kilembe, director of Malawi's Ministry of Child Welfare, takes place in two weeks at their home in London's Marble Arch, and the couple are reportedly "dreading" the meet.
Penston Kilembe will not only observe Madge and Guy together for up to five hours a day, but will also be asking them intensive questions about alcohol, infertility, divorce and infidelity.
If the couple, who have been dodging rumours that their relationship is in trouble for some time now, don't show that they are a big, happy family, then chances are that they will not be allowed to adopt David.
"This home study is a big deal - and Madonna and Guy have been absolutely dreading it. Malawi is a conservative country that disapproves of drugs, alcohol, divorce and cheating. These assessments are very gruelling and many couples don't pass," the Sun quoted a source, as saying.
The "home-study" is the final legal hurdle that the couple need to pass so that they can adopt David, who has been living with them since October last year.
The meeting with Penston Kilembe, director of Malawi's Ministry of Child Welfare, takes place in two weeks at their home in London's Marble Arch, and the couple are reportedly "dreading" the meet.
Penston Kilembe will not only observe Madge and Guy together for up to five hours a day, but will also be asking them intensive questions about alcohol, infertility, divorce and infidelity.
If the couple, who have been dodging rumours that their relationship is in trouble for some time now, don't show that they are a big, happy family, then chances are that they will not be allowed to adopt David.
"This home study is a big deal - and Madonna and Guy have been absolutely dreading it. Malawi is a conservative country that disapproves of drugs, alcohol, divorce and cheating. These assessments are very gruelling and many couples don't pass," the Sun quoted a source, as saying.
The "home-study" is the final legal hurdle that the couple need to pass so that they can adopt David, who has been living with them since October last year.
Malawi launches 2nd annual HIV testing, counselling week
Malawi will on Monday begin a week-long testing and counselling of HIV/Aids among people willing to undertake the voluntary exercise nationwide.
Under the theme, “Plan Your Future: Go for HIV Testing Today,” the campaign hopes to reach 130,000 people this year, according to the country’s health ministry and National Aids Commission (NAC), two bodies coordinating the activities.
In the first exercise last year, some 96,849 people were tested and counselled for HIV. Out of this figure, some 10,421 Malawians were found to be HIV-positive, the ministry said.
According to the ministry, there were 50,545 females who went through the exercise as opposed to 44,711 male volunteers.
It added, “It is important to know one’s HIV status because you can plan for the future better.”
In addition, the ministry noted, those who knew their HIV status to be positive “are free to access available support services, including ARVs (anti-retrovirals) therapy.”
The testing, which will take place at hospitals, health centres, dispensaries and mobile clinics directed at remote areas, will end on 21 January.
According to NAC, 14 per cent of Malawi’s 12 million people have HIV/Aids, one of the highest rates in the world.
In his efforts to develop Malawi, President Bingu wa Mutharika has
Under the theme, “Plan Your Future: Go for HIV Testing Today,” the campaign hopes to reach 130,000 people this year, according to the country’s health ministry and National Aids Commission (NAC), two bodies coordinating the activities.
In the first exercise last year, some 96,849 people were tested and counselled for HIV. Out of this figure, some 10,421 Malawians were found to be HIV-positive, the ministry said.
According to the ministry, there were 50,545 females who went through the exercise as opposed to 44,711 male volunteers.
It added, “It is important to know one’s HIV status because you can plan for the future better.”
In addition, the ministry noted, those who knew their HIV status to be positive “are free to access available support services, including ARVs (anti-retrovirals) therapy.”
The testing, which will take place at hospitals, health centres, dispensaries and mobile clinics directed at remote areas, will end on 21 January.
According to NAC, 14 per cent of Malawi’s 12 million people have HIV/Aids, one of the highest rates in the world.
In his efforts to develop Malawi, President Bingu wa Mutharika has
Malawi urges national Aids test
Malawi's government is calling on all of its sexually active population to take an Aids test, saying this would help it fight the pandemic.
About 14% of Malawi's 12m people are believed to be HIV-positive but more accurate figures would help the fight and enable people to get treatment.
The campaign is to be focussed on rural areas that are usually beyond the reach of the state's health services.
Malawi's government says Aids is one of its biggest challenges.
President Bingu wa Mutharika has said the disease is a major threat to efforts to drag the nation out of poverty
In May, the World Health Organization issued new guidance, saying that anyone seeking medical treatment in countries where HIV was rife should be tested, unless they "opted out".
However, no test should be done against a person's wishes or without their knowledge, the guidelines stress.
The WHO said that 80% of people with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa did not know they had the virus.
Support
BBC Africa correspondent Peter Greste says nobody is predicting that the entire nation will show up at the test sites in the next seven days but the health ministry has distributed about 300,000 testing kits around the country to cope with the expected demand.
"We want to encourage Malawians to go for the tests. We also want to take advantage to reach them with correct information on HIV prevention, treatment, care and support," ministry of health HIV testing and counselling officer Mtemwa Nyangulu told the AFP news agency last week.
Until now, testing was only done if a person requested it.
The authorities says only 15% of the six million sexually active Malawians have had an Aids test and know their status.
About 14% of Malawi's 12m people are believed to be HIV-positive but more accurate figures would help the fight and enable people to get treatment.
The campaign is to be focussed on rural areas that are usually beyond the reach of the state's health services.
Malawi's government says Aids is one of its biggest challenges.
President Bingu wa Mutharika has said the disease is a major threat to efforts to drag the nation out of poverty
In May, the World Health Organization issued new guidance, saying that anyone seeking medical treatment in countries where HIV was rife should be tested, unless they "opted out".
However, no test should be done against a person's wishes or without their knowledge, the guidelines stress.
The WHO said that 80% of people with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa did not know they had the virus.
Support
BBC Africa correspondent Peter Greste says nobody is predicting that the entire nation will show up at the test sites in the next seven days but the health ministry has distributed about 300,000 testing kits around the country to cope with the expected demand.
"We want to encourage Malawians to go for the tests. We also want to take advantage to reach them with correct information on HIV prevention, treatment, care and support," ministry of health HIV testing and counselling officer Mtemwa Nyangulu told the AFP news agency last week.
Until now, testing was only done if a person requested it.
The authorities says only 15% of the six million sexually active Malawians have had an Aids test and know their status.
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