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Amelia Taylor says use of Generative AI in the healthcare sector very important

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By Chisomo Phiri

Dr. Amelia Taylor, a lecturer in Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) has described Generative Artificial Intelligence as an important tool that can provide solutions to challenges Malawi is facing in the healthcare sector.

Generative AI is a type of AI that can create new content and ideas, including conversations, stories, images, videos, and music.

Speaking on Thursday during the one day Generative AI project dissemination workshop at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre, Taylor said Malawi has to adopt the use of Generative AI if it is to end challenges faced in the healthcare sector because the tool is very effective and innovative

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Said Taylor:” Generative AI is very innovative tool or technology that can be used everywhere including in the healthcare sector.This technology can be used in so many ways. For example, it can be used to find information using natural language.Not only that, but also the tool itself can be able to perform complex tasks, for example summarizing information, extracting information from documents, extracting key words, creating tables, creating reports and many others. So it is basically an assistant.”

She added:” It can help healthcare professionals to be able to understand contexts. In this case, the contexts we mean disease surveillance. This means that the Generative AI can help healthcare professionals to know the information of the disease of interest for example cholera, cancer, Covid-19 and many other diseases.”

Taylor said the other important part of Generative AI in healthcare sector is that it can be accessed everywhere even in the rural areas.

“The tool is accessible everywhere and it can be found in communities. The tool can be on the mobile phones and it can be online and offline. It can provide answers to several questions in relation to health. Questions like what are symptoms of cholera, what causes Covid-19, how best can we prevent cholera or cancer.It also interprets abbreviations and many others difficult terminologies in the healthcare field.It acts as a dictionary but in this case, Generative AI is a very modern dictionary. In short it is an assistant to guidelines,” she said.

Dr Amelia Taylor

On her part, Dr. Alinafe Mbewe, a Director of Digital Health in the Ministry of Health echoed Taylor saying everything nowadays is going digital and that the use of Generative AI in the healthcare can indeed bring positive results.

“I am glad that digital health is growing in Malawi. Of course, we are not doing well as other countries but still we are at a better level.And the idea to bring Generative AI in the healthcare sector is another indication that we are doing much better in as far as digital health is concerned. This is really exciting news,” she said.

She added:”In short, as Taylor said, Generative AI is very important in the healthcare sector. All the systems you see in the hospitals whether  ordering drugs or in the laboratories, is part of digital health and AI is one of the most important components of digital health. I find the use of Generative AI as an  important idea if we are to keep doing great in the digital health sector.”

𝐂hakwera hails strong bilateral relations with United States as he hosts visiting Senators

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By Staff Reporter

President of the Republic Chakwera of Malawi, Dr Lazarus Chakwera has praised the enduring alliance between Malawi and the United States during bilateral discussions with members of the USA Congress consisting of five Senators, on Wednesday.

Highlighting significant contributions across various sectors including education, agriculture, and healthcare, President Chakwera emphasized the pivotal role of US support in addressing pressing issues such as the current food crisis in the country.

Led by Senator Patty Murray, (WA). Chair; Senate Appropriations Committee the congressional delegation reiterated the commitment to bolster cooperation, focusing on leveraging technology and modern agricultural practices.

Reflecting on the historical ties dating back to 1964, President Chakwera expressed optimism for further expansion and deepening of the relationship, despite challenges such as disasters and rising commodity prices stressing that fruitful discussions are what strengthen bilateral ties.

President Chakwera and the visiting Senators from USA

His Excellency stressed that the country needs a “paradigm shift” in terms of the financing for development that currently exists, adding that it is time for transformative strategies for Malawi and the continent in line with the Vision 2063 agenda.

President Chakwera went further by offering suggestions for areas of collaboration between the US and Malawi that need to be magnified, including comprehensive investment in the mining sector; enhancing capacity building; leveraging expertise in technology and software engineering by supporting partnerships with institutions like MUBAS; investing in infrastructure development including establishing efficient and sufficient road networks and sustaining open engagement and discussions on matters of mutual benefit including international peace and stability.

Meanwhile the US delegation hailed the vast potential for collaboration in many areas in Malawi including mining and water and sanitation as well as partnerships in the agro-industry citing Macademia nuts as a prospective commodity that could open doors for partnership between the two countries, given the quality of the product in Malawi.

One of the senators also pointed out that the collaboration should provide solutions to not just the growing of Macademia nuts, but also the production.

Min of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nancy Tembo also hailed the collaboration with the US, saying the two nations share common areas of interest including children’s welfare, and investment in minerals. Hon Tembo also said that the US’ 2025 development strategy aligns with Malawi’s 2063 blueprint.

Also in attendance during the discussions was Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Sam Kawale who thanked the US delegation for the existing partnerships that Malawi has benefited from including one with North Carolina State University, which provides for investment in research at Malawian academic institutions.

His Excellency the President of the Republic Chakwera of Malawi, Dr Lazarus Chakwera has praised the enduring alliance between Malawi and the United States during bilateral discussions with members of the USA Congress consisting of five Senators, on Wednesday.

Highlighting significant contributions across various sectors including education, agriculture, and healthcare, President Chakwera emphasized the pivotal role of US support in addressing pressing issues such as the current food crisis in the country.

Led by Senator Patty Murray, (WA). Chair; Senate Appropriations Committee the congressional delegation reiterated the commitment to bolster cooperation, focusing on leveraging technology and modern agricultural practices.

Reflecting on the historical ties dating back to 1964, President Chakwera expressed optimism for further expansion and deepening of the relationship, despite challenges such as disasters and rising commodity prices stressing that fruitful discussions are what strengthen bilateral ties.

His Excellency stressed that the country needs a “paradigm shift” in terms of the financing for development that currently exists, adding that it is time for transformative strategies for Malawi and the continent in line with the Vision 2063 agenda.



President Chakwera went further by offering suggestions for areas of collaboration between the US and Malawi that need to be magnified, including comprehensive investment in the mining sector; enhancing capacity building; leveraging expertise in technology and software engineering by supporting partnerships with institutions like MUBAS; investing in infrastructure development including establishing efficient and sufficient road networks and sustaining open engagement and discussions on matters of mutual benefit including international peace and stability.

Meanwhile the US delegation hailed the vast potential for collaboration in many areas in Malawi including mining and water and sanitation as well as partnerships in the agro-industry citing Macademia nuts as a prospective commodity that could open doors for partnership between the two countries, given the quality of the product in Malawi.

One of the senators also pointed out that the collaboration should provide solutions to not just the growing of Macademia nuts, but also the production.

Min of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nancy Tembo also hailed the collaboration with the US, saying the two nations share common areas of interest including children’s welfare, and investment in minerals. Hon Tembo also said that the US’ 2025 development strategy aligns with Malawi’s 2063 blueprint.

Also in attendance during the discussions was Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Sam Kawale who thanked the US delegation for the existing partnerships that Malawi has benefited from including one with North Carolina State University, which provides for investment in research at Malawian academic institutions.

Chilima calls for Rotary International to take the leading role in tackling Mental Health

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By Staff Reporter

Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima has appealed to Rotary International (RI) to take a leading role in tackling mental health issues.

The VP made these remarks on Wednesday at BICC in Lilongwe, where he presided over a Gala dinner held by RI in honor of its visiting President Gordon McInally.

McInally and Chilima


Chilima urged RI to continue changing lives through humanitarian initiatives, ensuring high ethical standards in various professions, and more importantly, empowering youth to embrace the spirit of generosity.

Rotary international President Gordon McInally reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Malawi particularly in mental health advocacy.

On behalf of Rotaractors, Esther Bonyonga extended gratitude to RI for their unwavering support and guidance. She rallied for collective efforts to create a lasting legacy of goodwill and hope for generations to come.

Chakwera warns against misuse of disaster relief items

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By Alex Chitwere


President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has warned officials, put responsible for the distribution of relief items against misusing the donations at the expense of vulnerable people.

Chakwera issued the warning on Wednesday at Mulanje Stadium during a memorial service held in honour of Tropical Cyclone Freddy victims, where some development partners also pledged continued support to survivors.

Chakwera at Tropical Cyclone Memorial



““I am thankful for the support we continue to receive. Let me warn some Malawians who are pulling us down by wanting to divert relief support like it happened before with the items from Mozambique part of which did not get to the evacuation camps.

“When others have shown interest to help, let us not be the ones to shut the door on them as if all is well inside,” said Chakwera.

He said government is keen at completing projects underway such as bridges, roads, hospitals, schools and all infrastructure which were damaged during the tropical cyclone.

Earlier, Ambassador for Zimbabwe and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dr. Nancy Saungweme, said since the cyclone hit the country, several states in solidarity have continued to mobilise resources to complement goverment’s efforts in recovery programme.

She pledged the international community’s continued support to provide technical and logistical support in accordance with the needs of the country.

In his remarks, Country Director for World Food Programme, Paul Turnball, said the impact of the natural disaster has been profound, causing unimaginable loss and suffering to families across the region.

Turnball observed that the number of displaced people underscored the scale of the humanitarian response required.

He, therefore, commended the spirit of unity displayed by Malawians who came together with their resources to provide assistance.

“One crucial aspect of our efforts involves strengthening environmental governance and providing sustainable practices to mitigate the extreme weather events.

“Furthermore, the United Nations is actively engaged in implementing the 2024-2028 United Nations Development Cooperation Framework developed in full alignment with the Malawi 2063 Agenda. There’s also close collaboration with government and stakeholders advancing sustainable diverse and inclusive growth, strengthening institutional governance and ensuring investments in human capital,” said Turnball.

Representative of International Non-Governmental Organisations, Hastings Nyasulu  said the organisations will continue working with local stakeholders to ensure that the survivors bounce back.

He said most of the support is medical supplies, psychosocial support and food relief items among others.

Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which mostly hit 16 districts in the southern region in March last year, affected 2.2 million people, as 650,000 were displaced, 679 killed and 537 people are still missing to date.

The theme for the commemoration was: ‘A resilient nation towards recovery’ and drew people from the 15 districts that were affected by the cyclone.

Concerned Israel trip applicants present their petition to Lilongwe DC office

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By Chisomo Phiri

Concerned Israel trip applicants have on Wednesday presented their petition to Lilongwe District Commissioner’s office expressing concern over the delays of their trip to work in Israel by some government officials.

In his speech, chairperson for the grouping Tapson Maganga said among others, in the petition, they are calling on government to quickly finalize the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Israel.

Maganga said it is pathetic that the delays for the youth to go and work in Israel is being done here while farmers and their agents in Israel are ready to assist in their travelling logistics and employ them in their farms.



Said Maganga:”We borrowed money for our express passports, medical reports and police clearance, some even sold their house items and maize fields thinking when they go to Israel they will make money to recover all those things, but we are still here.”

Maganga has since asked President Lazarus Chakwera to intervene in this matter saying they know that the President has got good plans for the youth in the country, such as increasing job opportunities for the youth, but some official are sleeping on their job.

Speaking after receiving the petition, Lilongwe District Commissioner Dr. Lawford Palani thanked the protesters for following the procedures in presenting their petition.

“My duty is to receive the petition and deliver it to the relevant authorities and I can assure you that this petition will be delivered to the Office of President and Cabinet (OPC) as soon as possible,” said Palani.

The protesters presented the petition after marching peacefully while singing songs praising and putting their trust in President Chakwera to rescue them.
 
According to the concerned Israel trip applicants, they were supposed to start going to Israel last week and they have now been promised to leave the country on 31st March 2024.