UNICEF Constructs US$7 Million Worth TTC for Malawi Govt

UNICEF Malawi has completed construction of Chiradzulu Teacher Training College (TTC), ready to handover to Ministry of Education, Science and Technology this Tuesday in Chiradzulu district.

Angela Travis, Chief of Communication, at UNICEF Malawi says the new TTC is worth US$7 million and will be training Primary School Teachers.

The new college will help to meet Malawi's growing demand for primary school teachers and promote quality education.

Travis said UNICEF through the Swiss National Committee constructed Chiradzulu TTC at the request of the Ministry of Education to fulfill the need for additional primary school teachers in the country.

"Given the growth in the primary school population the additional trained teachers will assist in keeping class size at a manageable level." said Travis in an interview

She indicated that the new college will take around 540 students per year.

The construction has taken 3 years, and the building will be handed over to the Government of Malawi, in order for preparations to begin for opening in September 2015.

In terms of sustainability and ensure that the College is up to standards, the UNICEF Malawi's Chief of Communication, said "The handover symbolically gives responsibility to the government for the launch and running of the college.

"Staff have been recruited and students are being selected. However UNICEF will continue to support the Ministry as needed and will oversee the final stages of completion. The opening is planned for September." She said

The funds for construction have been around US $ 7 million, and have been provided by UNICEF through the Swiss National Committee.

Manfred Ndovi, Public Relations Officer for Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, says  Chiradzulu Teacher Training College will be welcomed as eighth Teacher Training College run by Malawi Government.

PACHI Committed To Scale Up Child Survival Efforts As Govt Encourages Partnerships For Greater Impact

Parent and Child Health Initiative (PACHI) set to work hard with support from UNICEF in ending preventable child deaths by accelerating progress on maternal newborn and child survival.

Statistics indicates that though Malawi has registered a decline in child mortality rates per 1000 live births from 112 in 2010 to 71 representing annual rate of reduction of 5.6%, child death are unacceptably high as the A Promise Renewed (APR) 2013 report indicates 12 under five children die every minute.

According to the report, causes of death includes; pneumonia (13%), diarrhea (7%), malaria (14%), neonatal (32%) and HIV and AIDS (12%) and other diseases (12%) which are preventable and have treatment. 

Charles Makwenda 

Chief Executive Officer for PACHI Charles Makwenda says the organisation has set number of activities to including awareness among Malawians and lobby for improved health services.

“We would like to engage the communities, its very important for the communities to understand first that the number of death currently on the table are not acceptable and should do something because very often communities do accept the fate of death.”

“They have to understand that this can be changed” he added 

He said among others the engagements will include the awareness messages that the communities must demand for better health services from government 

Magwira 

Principal Secretary for Health Dr. MacPhail Magwira observes that partnerships and collaborative relationships are critical to deliver results for children and to contribute significantly to realising their rights and child survival.

"In a developing country shuch as Malawi it is critical that a broad range of strategic partnerships are established to achieve appropriate outcomes" said Magwira who called Civil Society Organisations (CSO's) to collaborate with government saying "Malawi realises" that CSO's has the local knowledge to inderstand what works at the grassroots level as well as challenges.

MacPhail Magwira: collaboration is power

He also appealed to all faith groups and CSO's to continue encourage local communities and families to adopt "priority behaviors" ten life saving acts for children.

"As government following our renewed commitment to reduce child deaths we will not only support but also initiate the involvement of the civil society in the APR movement" he said



Magwira however hailed CSO's for their focus on social accountability as part of APR in Malawi which he said will go beyond the sharpening, implementing and scaling up of high impact internvetions for maternal and neonatal health and provide a greater scope toward promoting engagement of children and families and communities to hold authorities accountable with respect to rights fulfilment.

Since the Child Survival Call to Action, in June 2012, in Washington DC, 178 governments as well as hundreds of civil society and faith based organisations have signed a pledge, vowing to do everything possible to stop women and children from dying of causes that are easily avoidable. 

Malawi is one of the 178 countries that have renewed their commitments to reduce under-five mortarity to 20 or less under-five deaths per 1000 live births by 2035 under 'A Promise Renewed (APR)' Initiative.

UNICEF to Airlift 90 Tones of Relief Supplies to Flood Victims

UNICEF to Airlift 90 Tones of Relief Supplies to Flood Victims

As heavy rains continue to fall in Malawi, UNICEF is stepping up its relief efforts, airlifting an initial 90 tons of supplies, as it seeks to reach those most in need. 

UNICEF in a statement released on Monday 19^th January 2015 says is this week airlifting 90 tons of relief supplies including: essential medicines, tents and tarpaulins, therapeutic food and milk for treating malnutrition, hygiene kits and education and play supplies to aid children’s psychosocial recovery.  

The statement has indicated that UNICEF is working through its teams on the ground in Blantyre and Zomba to deliver life-saving interventions to those in the hardest hit districts of Nsanje, Chikwawa and Phalombe all in the Shire River Basin.  

The response is focused on displaced women and children, the UN Children’s Agency is supporting partners including the Government of Malawi, to provide clean water and temporary sanitation, monitor the nutritional status of children - and treat severe cases - and distribute essential medicines for women and children.   

“After surveying the flooded districts from the air, we know that the scale of flooding is immense, and with the rains still falling, the water is unlikely to recede quickly,” said UNICEF’s Representative in Malawi, Mahimbo Mdoe in the statement.  “UNICEF is focused in this initial phase on ensuring those who have survived the raging waters are supported with their essential needs such as clean water and health care.”

Mdoe said UNICEF will be quick in its response to reach displaced communities with clean water, sanitation and medical supplies because stagnant water and poor sanitation can be deadly for young children.

The Malawi Government is leading the coordination mechanism for response initiatives with UN Agencies and NGOs as co-leads.

Heavy rains this season, has left over 50 people dead and government estimate 27,000 households (approx 135,000 people) to have been displaced since the floods hit the country. Reports are indicating that some families are still trapped in areas surrounded by water, waiting for air or water rescue by the Malawi Defence Force (MDF). Displaced communities are being housed in schools or ad hoc camps, with a shortage of decent shelter and sanitation facilities.

On Tuesday 13^th January 2015, in accordance with powers conferred upon him by Section 32(1) of the Disaster Preparedness and Relief Act, President Professor Peter Mutharika declared all the districts that have been affected by floods Disaster Areas, with immediate effect.

Due to the increasing number of affected people making relief requirements also to increase, President Mutharika also appealed for humanitarian assistance, from the International donor community, the relevant United Nations agencies, the Non Governmental Organisations, the local private sector as well as all fellow citizens of goodwills as additional resources are required to provide assistance to all the affected people.