Coffin making is big business in Malawi.
Everywhere along the roads you'll see "Coffin Workshops."
One sign in particular caught my eye: "Heaven Bound Funeral Parlor."
I guess it's putting a positive spin on it.
The booming coffin-building industry is yet another grim reminder of the realities of life in Malawi... the cruel realities of rampant AIDS, hunger and child mortality.
In some areas, the coffin makers can barely keep up with demand.
People here look forward to their home in heaven. But how wonderful it would be if, first, they could live a life worth living here on earth. Pray for Malawi!
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
Visitors from Malawi promote charity
When Grace Chiumia and Samuel Chirwa left Northern New York in July after touring with the Mzuzu Youth Choir, they did not expect to come back at all, much less soon.
But they are back, eight months later, experiencing snow and strengthening the ties between northern Malawi and the north country.
North country residents gave $10,000 in July to build a sanctuary for their home church. Extra money — about $5,000 — went to a widows fund. Ms. Chiumia and Mr. Chirwa have returned to promote that fledgling organization.
"Apart from the good work we have done, there is still more need," Ms. Chiumia said.
She said that in Malawi, widows are persecuted by in-laws who will strip the widow's house of furniture and kitchenware. Sometimes they take the house, too, and even empty the widow's bank account.
Ms. Chiumia, who is a widow, said: "The in-laws have taken all the things. I am still struggling for our house."
While Ms. Chiumia works as a nurse, many widows are forced to beg or become prostitutes.
"They have to scrounge for food," she said. "They cannot pay bills."
But they are back, eight months later, experiencing snow and strengthening the ties between northern Malawi and the north country.
North country residents gave $10,000 in July to build a sanctuary for their home church. Extra money — about $5,000 — went to a widows fund. Ms. Chiumia and Mr. Chirwa have returned to promote that fledgling organization.
"Apart from the good work we have done, there is still more need," Ms. Chiumia said.
She said that in Malawi, widows are persecuted by in-laws who will strip the widow's house of furniture and kitchenware. Sometimes they take the house, too, and even empty the widow's bank account.
Ms. Chiumia, who is a widow, said: "The in-laws have taken all the things. I am still struggling for our house."
While Ms. Chiumia works as a nurse, many widows are forced to beg or become prostitutes.
"They have to scrounge for food," she said. "They cannot pay bills."
Malawi soldiers set for Darfur
Malawi Defence Forces (MDF) are for the first time this year sending soldiers to war torn Sudan western region of Darfur on a peace keeping mission, an official from the army has said.
MDF Spokesman Clement Namangale said the southern African country has been sending troops for observer mission in Darfur for the past three years but this will be the first time to send a military contingent.
"Our troops have been on observer mission in Sudan before but this will be the first time to send a battalion of 800 soldiers and we have been preparing for this trip for over a year," said Namangale.
According to the MDF spokesman they will next month send a survey team for a weeklong assessment whose result will determine when the battalion leaves the country.
Namangale said the battalion which will consist of senior officers and down to the junior ranking soldiers, is expected to be stationed in Darfur for about six months.
Thousands of innocent civilians have lost their lives in Darfur while thousands have been displaced due to a conflict others have described as genocide.
The spokesman said the UN inspection team was in Malawi in November last year for the inspection of the battalion and that a second team is expected shortly before the battalion leaves for Sudan.
Malawi soldiers have been on peacekeeping missions in Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC), Burundi and Sierra Leon.
Volunteer doctors help to tackle 'brain drain'
Bonn, Germany: UNV volunteer bone specialist Dr. Robert Lapyam Ayelle describes his work in Malawi as "fighting a war". "We are working under very difficult conditions. The doctors now working in Africa are really tired. You are stretched beyond your limits," he says.
Dr. Ayelle is one of 41 UNV volunteer doctors working in Malawi to fill an acute shortage of local medical personnel. Television company CNN International reported this month in the programme 'Untold Stories: Africa's deadly brain drain' that Malawi now has only one doctor for every 50,000 people.
The lack of trained personnel, shortages of drugs and equipment and epidemics such as Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS are piling on the pressure. 'Due to the resources, you reach the point of frustration,' Dr. Ayelle told CNN. Some 25% of Malawi's health staff is expected to die of HIV/AIDS in the next decade, the programme says.
CNN reports that many locally trained doctors have been lured to Europe and North America by higher incomes and professional opportunities. Malawi Health Minister Narhirue Ngaunje said that the situation was not unique. 'Many countries have got problems," she told CNN.
Dr. Ayelle and the other doctors are working as UNV volunteers to develop health capacity as part of a scheme that started in 2003. Faced with the acute shortage of health professionals, the Government of Malawi obtained support from the Southern Africa Capacity Initiative and UNDP, and continues to receive support from the Global Fund against Tuberculosis and Malaria. As a result, UNV volunteers are providing health services all over the country.
The doctors work under the supervision of the Ministry of Health in major hospitals and in district clinics as specialists and district doctors. They provide health services to the communities and enhance the capacity of the domestic health personnel through training in basic medical processes and by motivating and training local volunteers to provide home-based services to their communities.
Dr. Ayelle told CNN that UNV volunteer doctors are high committed. "You need to be a person that is there for the community, ready to serve at all costs," he says.
Dr. Ayelle is one of 41 UNV volunteer doctors working in Malawi to fill an acute shortage of local medical personnel. Television company CNN International reported this month in the programme 'Untold Stories: Africa's deadly brain drain' that Malawi now has only one doctor for every 50,000 people.
The lack of trained personnel, shortages of drugs and equipment and epidemics such as Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS are piling on the pressure. 'Due to the resources, you reach the point of frustration,' Dr. Ayelle told CNN. Some 25% of Malawi's health staff is expected to die of HIV/AIDS in the next decade, the programme says.
CNN reports that many locally trained doctors have been lured to Europe and North America by higher incomes and professional opportunities. Malawi Health Minister Narhirue Ngaunje said that the situation was not unique. 'Many countries have got problems," she told CNN.
Dr. Ayelle and the other doctors are working as UNV volunteers to develop health capacity as part of a scheme that started in 2003. Faced with the acute shortage of health professionals, the Government of Malawi obtained support from the Southern Africa Capacity Initiative and UNDP, and continues to receive support from the Global Fund against Tuberculosis and Malaria. As a result, UNV volunteers are providing health services all over the country.
The doctors work under the supervision of the Ministry of Health in major hospitals and in district clinics as specialists and district doctors. They provide health services to the communities and enhance the capacity of the domestic health personnel through training in basic medical processes and by motivating and training local volunteers to provide home-based services to their communities.
Dr. Ayelle told CNN that UNV volunteer doctors are high committed. "You need to be a person that is there for the community, ready to serve at all costs," he says.
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