Resources crucial in strengthening democratic governance

By Brian Itai

Lilongwe, January 4, Mana: The strengthening of democratic governance, domestic accountability and access to justice especially for women, girls and other vulnerable groups like people with albinism are crucial for sustainable development.

EU Ambassador to Malawi, Marchel Gerrmann said this when the European Union handed over a donation of four 4x4 vehicles and eleven motorcycles procured with funding from the 11^th European Development Fund through the Chilungamo Programme to NICE Public Trust.

Gerrmann said as EU they value and continue to support NICE Public Trust owing to the role it plays in empowering citizens to demand transparency and accountability from duty bearers which is crucial for the promotion of domestic accountability.

NICE Public Trust has been accredited by the Malawi Electoral Commission to provide voter education to the electorate across the country ahead of the forthcoming tripartite elections in 2019.

The EU Ambassador said it was for this reason that they recognize that for NICE to accomplish all the tasks, the support of other development partners is crucially needed. 

“With a network of over 8 000 volunteers and a reach to millions of Malawians in all the districts, NICE is uniquely placed to impart knowledge on the voting procedures and more importantly empower citizens to claim and their rights,” he said.

Speaking when receiving the donation, Board Chair for NICE Public Trust, Susan Kaunda said as a Public Trust they value the financial, technical and material assistance they get from EU ever since NICE started as a project in 1999.

“This donation has come at the right time when we are busy empowering and mobilizing the public through civic education. It is no doubt that the vehicles and the motorcycles will ease the challenges we have in reaching to the grassroots,” said Kaunda.

She said the support from EU has given them more vigour, strength and zeal to work harder and better in fulfilling their mandate of contributing towards democracy and good governance through civic and voter education.

Cholera situation not yet epidemic, Minister

 

Minister of Health and Population Atupele Muluzi briefs members of the press on current cholera situation in Lilongwe-pic by Lisa Kadango Vintulla

By Brian Itai

Lilongwe, January 4, Mana: Minister of Health and Population Atupele Muluzi has said although the cholera situation is certainly worsening, it has not yet reached the stage where it can be regarded as an epidemic.

The Minister said this when he gave an update on the situation of cholera in the country on Thursday morning at the Ministry of Health at Capital Hill in Lilongwe, where he appealed for assistance from everyone to compliment his ministry’s efforts  in trying to contain the disease.

“Many in this country still are not applying basic measures of hygiene at home and this is contributing to the spread of the disease. I am asking for your support in spreading information about how we can all better look after ourselves at home, stopping the spread of the disease in its tracks,” said Muluzi.

He has assured Malawians that the Ministry of Health together with its partners is doing everything possible to contain the situation and that the people should not despair as the situation is under control.

The Minister said ever since the first case was reported and confirmed on 24^th November in Karonga at Iponga Health Centre, the Ministry of Health has been working hard with its development partners to control the situation.

“This has meant regular coordination meetings to include regular Health Cluster meetings as guided by the Department of Disaster Management Affairs.

“We have also put in place cholera prevention and control measures and activities to include ongoing health education by the Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) at the community level, and we are providing chlorine tablets to cleanse water for domestic use,” he said.

As of January 4, a total of 158 cholera cases have been reported in the country which has resulted in four deaths with Karonga registering the highest number of them at 138 including all the 4 fatalities. 

Nkhatabay has reported 16 cases, Dowa two and both Lilongwe and Kasungu have had a case each and out of all these cases, 146 have been treated and are now well at home, with only seven patients in the treatment camps.

Muluzi said the intention of his Ministry is to try and test and treat patients at source and this has been achieved through rapid deployment of tented clinics in affected areas. 

“You can tell by the statistics of the disease this year, we have been working hard to test then treat patients who have contracted the disease. Of course, we cannot be complacent and our Epidemiology Unit has increased its surveillance and testing of all diarrhoea diseases during this high threat period,” said Muluzi.

He revealed that with the help of the oral cholera vaccine, they have been able to treat high risk patients with 600 000 Malawians having received the vaccine since 2015 and now an order of 400 000 doses has been made to be offered to residents of Karonga, Nkhatabay and Mangochi.