African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) and Shaping Our Future Foundation (SOFF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will see the former partnering SOFF in bringing support in advancing education for Malawian children, and community- based health care activities.
The signing of the MoU took place on Monday, August 22,2022 at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the First Lady of the Republic of Malawi, Madame Monica Chakwera said she is confident that the partnership between the two organizations will help marginalized girls stay in school with improved learning outcomes and engage communities to change social norms that devalue girls and their education.
She said: “This partnership will enable AMREF bring in the missing element of support to link community-based health care activities and workers to the girls and boys we are supporting in the schools and also that health services and important health information are linked to our students, thereby guaranteeing that boys and girls have information about sexual and reproductive health issues.”
Madam Chakwera further said, she is sure that the signed agreement will greatly contribute to the goal of ensuring access, retention, and completion of secondary school education, while thanking AMREF for joining hands with SOFF in supporting government’s efforts in advancing education for children of Malawi.
But Chakwera said it is sad to note that close to 50% of Malawian girls get into marriage before the age of 18, with 9% getting married before the age of 15, emphasizing the need to protect, educate, empower and on good faith, girls of Malawi if the country is to realize the sustainable goals, adding that this is why SOFF exists.
In his speech, Group Chief Executive Officer for AMREF Githinji Gitahi said his organisation is committed to work with SOFF and Malawi’s First Lady in many areas of need, including capacity building for the team at SOFF, and grant development trainings for girl nurses and midwives.
African Medical and Research Foundation is the largest health development non-governmental international organisation based in Africa, committed to improving health, and it has its headquarters in Kenya. It is currently having its programs in over 35 countries in 35 countries across Africa.
The Malawi Queens have started the 2023 Netball World Cup Qualifiers on a positive note following their 69-50 victory over e-Swatini in the first match.
Queens took the lead from the first whistle of the match.
In the next match, Queens will face Kenya on Tuesday at 16:00 PM.
Chances for Queens to qualify for the 2023 World Cup looks promising as their African rivals Uganda that were drawn together with Queens in Pool B have pulled out of the qualifiers, but still have their slot secured at World Cup following their brilliant performance at the Commonwealth Games.
A five months old baby has died of suspected suffocation and burns in Ntchisi after his angry father set ablaze their house just hours after failed marriage reconciliation talks with the wife to end a separation.
Ntchisi Police Station Public Relations Officer Yohane Tasowana said on Monday the baby died inside the burning house and the incident happened last night at Chiwombera village in the district.
Tasowana has identified the suspect as Boston Khwanya of Kandaya village in the area of Traditional Authority Kalumo in Ntchisi, who they have so far arrest and booked him to answer charges of murder and arson.
The deceased baby’s mother and grandmother, who were also sleeping in the same house, have survived the inferno with injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment at Ntchisi District Hospital.
Police in Lilongwe on Sunday, arrested a 30-year-old pastor from Maye, Nathenje for allegedly touching and inserting his fingers into the private parts of two sisters in the name of cleansing them from evil spirits.
Confirming the arrest, Lilongwe Police spokesperson, Hastings Chigalu said Juma Njera of Come to Jesus Ministries invited the two sisters aged 17 and 24 to his house for special prayers on Saturday.
Chigalu said Njera had prophesied to them that they were possessed with demons that needed deliverance quickly.
“On arrival at around 19:00 hours, the sisters were first given the so called holy water to wash their faces for the demons to go out,” said Chigalu.
He said Njera then told the sisters that the anointing water was failing to effectively work because the girls’ evil spirits entered them through their private parts hence, there was a need for special deliverance by physically touching the affected parts.
“The suspect then ordered the victims to remove their clothes and started inserting his fingers into the girls private parts, one by one claiming that it was the only way the demons would be defeated,” Chigalu said.
According to Chigalu, when Njera finished touching the girls, he escorted the victims home since it was dark.
He said the sisters narrated the whole ordeal to their parents who later took them to Nathenje Police Post to report the matter and led to the arrest of the suspect who has since been charged with two counts of indecent assault.
Njera hails from Chiphole Village, T/A Mambo in Mangochi District.
