The Ministry of Health has confirmed two cases of Mpox in Lilongwe District, with the first case reported on March 20 at Bwaila Hospital and the second case confirmed on April 16 after laboratory tests.
According to Secretary for Health Sam Mndolo, the cases were confirmed after laboratory tests.
Mpox is a viral disease that spreads from animals to humans and from human to human.
Maziko Matemba
Speaking with 247 Malawi News Health expert Maziko Matemba,explained that it spreads through droplets when people talk or cough, by touching rashes or fluids from an infected person, or through dirty surfaces.
It can also enter the body through cuts or broken skin. Certain groups are more at risk, including children, pregnant women, people with weak immune systems, and those with many sexual partners Matemba added.
To stay safe, the ministry advises people to avoid close contact with anyone who has symptoms, wash hands regularly, and use condoms during sex.
The ministry is working closely with partners like the Lilongwe District Council, the World Health Organisation, the CDC in the U.S., Africa CDC, and others to manage the situation.
There’s no specific treatment for Mpox, but patients can get care to relieve symptoms.
Save the Children has taken a significant step in supporting local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in their efforts to protect children’s rights and promote education in Malawi.
The organization has donated five vehicles to local NGOs implementing the Tikwaniritse ndi Kuteteza Maufulu a Ana (TiKUMA) Project, a initiative aimed at improving the welfare and education of children in the country.
The vehicles were handed over to the local NGOs, which include Girls Empowerment Network, Malawi Girl Guides Association (MAGGA), and Girls Activist Youth Organisation, as well as Balaka and Mchinji District Councils.
The TiKUMA Project is being implemented in the districts of Balaka and Mchinji, where numerical and literacy levels among learners are low.
According to Chakufwa Munthali, Director of Programmes Operations, Partnership and Awards Management at Save the Children, the vehicles are meant to enhance mobility during the implementation of the TiKUMA Project.
“The vehicles will enable our partner organizations to reach hard-to-reach areas and deliver essential services to children and communities in need,” Munthali said.
Mphatso Baluwa Jim, Executive Director for MAGGA, expressed gratitude to Save the Children for the donation, saying that the vehicles will greatly improve their ability to reach vulnerable children and communities.
“The vehicles will enable us to access remote areas and provide critical support to children who need it most,” Jim said.
Zizwa Msukuma, Director of Teacher Education and Development in the Ministry of Higher Education, hailed Save the Children for its efforts to support child protection and education in Malawi.
Msukuma emphasized the importance of the TiKUMA Project, which aims to train primary school teachers to be equipped with new teaching skills, thereby enhancing the quality of education in the country.
“The TiKUMA Project is a vital initiative that will help to improve the welfare and education of children in Malawi,” Msukuma said,adding that,”We appreciate Save the Children’s commitment to supporting child protection and education in the country, and we look forward to working together to achieve our goals.”
The TiKUMA Project is a comprehensive initiative that aims to address the challenges facing children in Malawi, particularly in the areas of education and protection.
The project will provide training to primary school teachers, support the development of child-friendly schools, and promote community-based child protection mechanisms.
The donation of vehicles to local NGOs is a significant boost to the project’s efforts to improve mobility and access to remote areas.
The vehicles will enable the NGOs to deliver essential services to children and communities in need, and will help to enhance the overall impact of the project.
The partnership between Save the Children and local NGOs is a testament to the organization’s commitment to supporting child protection and education in Malawi.
The donation of vehicles is a tangible example of the organization’s efforts to provide critical support to vulnerable children and communities.
The donation of vehicles to local NGOs by Save the Children is a significant development in the efforts to promote child protection and education in Malawi.
The TiKUMA Project is a vital initiative that will help to improve the welfare and education of children in the country, and the vehicles will play a critical role in enhancing the project’s impact.
The partnership between Save the Children and local NGOs is a model of effective collaboration and resource mobilization.
The organization’s commitment to supporting child protection and education in Malawi is evident in its efforts to provide critical support to vulnerable children and communities.
As the TiKUMA Project continues to be implemented, it is essential to ensure that the vehicles are used effectively to enhance mobility and access to remote areas.
The local NGOs must work closely with communities and other stakeholders to ensure that the project achieves its objectives and makes a meaningful impact on the lives of children and communities.
The success of the TiKUMA Project will depend on the effective collaboration and resource mobilization among stakeholders.
Save the Children’s donation of vehicles is a significant contribution to the project’s efforts to promote child protection and education in Malawi.
The organization’s commitment to supporting vulnerable children and communities is evident in its efforts to provide critical support to those in need.
The donation of vehicles to local NGOs by Save the Children is a significant development in the efforts to promote child protection and education in Malawi.
The TiKUMA Project is a vital initiative that will help to improve the welfare and education of children in the country, and the vehicles will play a critical role in enhancing the project’s impact.
In a significant boost to the morale of primary school teachers in Chitipa district, the government through Chitipa District Council has promoted 466 teachers to grades K and J. The promotions were long overdue, with some of the teachers having served for over 10 years without being promoted.
District Commissioner for Chitipa, MacMillan Magomero, presented the promotion letters to the teachers and said that 320 of them have been promoted to grade K while 146 have been promoted to grade J. Magomero’s presentation was a moment of great joy for the teachers, who had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
The promotions are a testament to the government’s commitment to recognizing and rewarding the hard work and dedication of its employees.
Many of the teachers who were promoted had been serving in the same grade for over a decade, and this promotion will not only bring them financial benefits but also motivate them to work even harder.
Naching’anda Primary school headteacher, Nebert Mulungu, thanked the government for the promotion, saying that it has motivated his working morale.
Mulungu had worked for 13 years without being promoted, and this promotion is a significant milestone in his career.
“I am grateful to the government for recognizing our hard work and dedication,” Mulungu said.
Chitipa CCAP Primary school headteacher, Suten Kitamula, also expressed her gratitude to the government for the promotion.
Kitamula said that the promotion is long overdue and will go a long way in motivating teachers to work harder.
“We have been waiting for this moment for a long time, and we are grateful to the government for finally recognizing our efforts,” Kitamula said.
The promotions are also expected to have a positive impact on the education sector in Chitipa district.
With motivated and recognized teachers, the quality of education is likely to improve, and students will benefit from the increased enthusiasm and dedication of their teachers.
The government has been working to improve the welfare of its employees, and the promotions are part of these efforts.
By recognizing and rewarding the hard work and dedication of its employees, the government is motivating them to work even harder and provide better services to the public.
The promotion of 466 primary school teachers in Chitipa district is a significant development that will have a positive impact on the education sector.
The government’s commitment to recognizing and rewarding its employees is commendable, and it will go a long way in motivating teachers to work harder and provide better services to the public.
The promotions are also a testament to the importance of employee recognition and reward.
When employees feel valued and recognized, they are more likely to be motivated and productive, which ultimately benefits the organization and the public.
As the promoted teachers celebrate this milestone, they should be reminded that their hard work and dedication have been recognized, and they should continue to strive for excellence in their work.
The government has shown its commitment to its employees, and it is now up to the teachers to justify this trust by delivering high-quality services to the public.
The Chitipa District Council’s decision to promote the teachers is a step in the right direction, and it will have a positive impact on the district’s education sector.
The promotions will not only benefit the teachers but also the students and the community at large.
In the long run, the promotions will contribute to the development of the district and the country as a whole.
With motivated and recognized teachers, the quality of education will improve, and students will be better equipped to contribute to the development of the country.
The government’s efforts to improve the welfare of its employees are commendable, and the promotions are a significant step in this direction.
As the government continues to work towards improving the welfare of its employees, it is likely that more teachers will be motivated to work harder and provide better services to the public.
The correctional department in Malawi’s Southern Region has officially handed over the site of the former Luwani Prison to the Neno District Council, following the facility’s closure in 2022.
Commissioner of Prisons for the Southern Region, Zacheus Malekano M’bawa, confirmed the development, stating that the department had collaborated well with the local council in preparing the handover.
He explained that they are transferring houses, farmland, boreholes, and office buildings that were previously used by the Malawi Prison Service to the Neno District Council.
This move, according to M’bawa, will enable the council to utilize the premises for various developmental purposes that will benefit the local community.
Neno District Council Director, Leonard Mchombo, expressed his gratitude to the prison authorities for laying a strong foundation for the future use of the site.
He assured stakeholders that the buildings and land would be put to good use for the benefit of the people living in the Luwani area and the entire Neno district.
“The houses you have handed over to us will be well maintained and used to serve the needs of the people in this area,” said Mchombo.
Traditional Authority Ngwenyama, who is the chief of the area, encouraged the council to foster a strong relationship with the community as they take over management of the site.
Among the assets handed over by the Malawi Prison Service are seven houses, a cultivated farm, two clusters of three-house compounds, and livestock facilities including a poultry house and a pigsty, among other items.
This handover marks a significant step towards community-oriented development and reflects the fruitful cooperation between state institutions and local government in Malawi.
Easter is one of the most significant and celebrated events in the Christian calendar, revered by believers across the globe for its deep spiritual meaning and powerful message of hope, renewal, and salvation.
Unlike other holidays that may be linked to cultural traditions or national history, Easter transcends geographical and ethnic boundaries because it is rooted in a universal story that speaks to the human soul—the story of life overcoming death.
At its core, Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, an event that is recorded in the New Testament of the Bible and forms the cornerstone of the Christian faith.
Christians believe that Jesus, the Son of God, was crucified on a Friday—now known as Good Friday—and rose from the dead on the third day, which is celebrated as Easter Sunday.
This resurrection is not just a miraculous event, but a divine act that signifies God’s ultimate power over sin and death, and His boundless love for humanity.
For Christians, Jesus’ resurrection is a fulfillment of ancient prophecies and the promise of eternal life to all who believe in Him.
It validates the teachings of Jesus and assures believers that death is not the end, but a passage to everlasting life with God.
The celebration of Easter is preceded by a period of reflection and repentance known as Lent, a forty-day season during which many Christians engage in fasting, prayer, and acts of charity.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and leads up to Holy Week, the final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry, which includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, when crowds welcomed Him with palm branches, acknowledging Him as the Messiah.
Maundy Thursday recalls the Last Supper, where Jesus shared a final meal with His disciples and instituted the ritual of Holy Communion, urging them to remember His sacrifice.
Good Friday marks the somber day of Jesus’ crucifixion, where He endured immense suffering and death on the cross at Calvary, a sacrifice Christians believe was made to redeem humanity from sin.
Holy Saturday represents the quiet and uncertain period when Jesus lay in the tomb, a time of mourning and anticipation.
Then comes Easter Sunday, the glorious morning that changed everything, as the stone was found rolled away and the tomb empty—Jesus had risen, just as He said He would.
This moment of resurrection brought joy to His followers and ignited a new movement that would spread throughout the world, giving rise to the Christian Church.
For centuries, Christians have gathered on Easter Sunday to celebrate this victory over the grave, often beginning the day with sunrise services that symbolize the dawning of new hope.
Churches are filled with worshippers dressed in bright colors, singing hymns of resurrection and joy, and listening to sermons that proclaim the message of life and renewal.
Many Christians also partake in the Holy Eucharist or Communion, a sacred ritual that connects them with the body and blood of Christ and reinforces their faith in His promise.
Easter is not only a celebration of a historical event, but also a personal and spiritual renewal for every believer who sees in the risen Christ the possibility of a transformed life.
It invites Christians to reflect on their own journeys, to cast off their spiritual burdens, and to embrace the hope that comes with knowing that God has conquered death.
Across the globe, Easter is marked by various customs and traditions that enrich the celebration, from Easter egg hunts and feasting to processions and reenactments of the Passion of Christ.
While some of these practices have cultural origins, they all serve to highlight the joy and vitality of the resurrection story.
In Malawi and many African countries, Easter is celebrated with church services, singing, dancing, and community gatherings that express the communal nature of Christian faith.
The Easter message resonates strongly in communities facing hardship, reminding them that just as Jesus overcame death, they too can overcome their struggles with faith and perseverance.
Easter also serves as a time of reconciliation, where families come together, forgive one another, and renew their bonds in the spirit of Christ’s love.
For the Christian, Easter is not just one Sunday of celebration, but the beginning of a new life marked by resurrection power, hope in trials, and a commitment to walk in the light of Christ.
In a world often overshadowed by despair and conflict, Easter stands as a beacon of hope, declaring that light can shine out of darkness and that life can emerge from the tomb.
It is a reminder that God’s love is stronger than hatred, His mercy deeper than our failures, and His promise of salvation is available to all who believe.
That is why Christians celebrate Easter—not merely as a tradition, but as a living testimony of their faith in a risen Savior who lives and reigns forever.
Through Easter, believers are reminded that no situation is beyond redemption, no soul beyond salvation, and no darkness too deep for God’s light to shine through.
In the resurrection of Jesus, Christians find their identity, their purpose, and their eternal hope.
