Malawi, UNICEF launch Letter to Community initiative

Malawi, in conjunction with the UN Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), on Friday launched The Letter to the Community, an initiative meant to address issues of children in the country.

The Letter will be sent by UNICEF bearing Accelerated Child Survival and Development (ACSD) messages to all traditional leaders across the country through the Malawi Post Office whose delivery will be done right at the traditional chiefs’ doorsteps.

According to Minister of Information and Civic Education, Patricia Kaliati, the development marks a milestone in the implementation of the ACSD’s overarching communication strategy which promotes the introduction of community dialogue at village level.

\"This strategic approach acknowledges fully the important role that traditional and community leaders play in assisting government carry out its development agenda,\" she said.

She said the level of authority and respect which the traditional leaders have are critical ingredients in facilitating the adoption of healthy behaviour at the village level.

UNICEF representative, Midimo Kasuke, said the initiative will address specific high impact intervention and propose actions that need to be taken by the community to adopt a particular intervention.

\"We are very much concerned with dealing with challenges facing the children in this country,\" he said.

Under the project, he added, UNICEF will be provide technical support in the drafting and printing of the letters under the Leadership of ACSD and the help of MPC to facilitate the delivery of letters to various communities countrywide.