Find Your Feet and Church and Society geared to support Public Sector Reform Program

ARET bemoans use of tobacco recycled seeds

By Frank Kauteka Tembo

Agricultural Research and Extension Trust (ARET) has expressed concern over the increased use of uncertified tobacco seeds in the country which is contributing to poor quality and little harvest of crop.

Anomalies in the production of tobacco start during the nursery up to the time it reaches the Auction Floors, a development that puts a lot of farmers earning little despite heavy workload executed during the planting season.

The observation and lamentation comes in amidst of tobacco sales season as some farmers are still harvesting low yields of tobacco and of poor quality despite the trust’s prior planting awareness campaigns in promotion of certified tobacco seeds for quality and bumper yields.

“As ARET, we work tirelessly ensuring that all tobacco farmers in the country earn big fish out of their sweat but it is worrisome that our goal might not be fulfilled if farmers do not follow new technologies given to them.” Lamented ARET Extension Officer for the North Kad Kapachira Phiri.

The Extension Officer noted with dismay that most farmers still earn little in the tobacco production due to low quality tobacco, come about just because farming technologies are ignored.

 “The use of uncertified seeds well known as “mbewu yakunyukuta” recycled seeds is greatly lowering yields of tobacco because such seeds do not resist to unfavorable rainfall and hazardous weather compared to certified seeds proved after various research and recommendations,” said Phiri.

He added that late uprooting of tobacco trees also contributes to the transfer of diseases from one season to another, a situation that lowers down tobacco production.

ARET has since challenged that farmers who follow new farming technologies harvest bumper yields despite weather calamities.

Agricultural Research and Extension Trust (ARET) is one of institutions that operate in the country with an aim of initiating and recommending farming technologies through various researches.

Women Shun Long Term Family Planning Methods

By Frank Kauteka Tembo

Banja La Mtsogolo (BLM) says it has noted with concern that women in Mzimba North and even the whole Northern Malawi are shunning long term methods of family planning due to lack of knowledge, limited availability of these methods, costs and various cultural myths. 

BLM lamented on Saturday in a meeting held at Kawuwa Primary School in Mzuzu in partnership with Mzimba North District Health Office aimed at raising awareness of women’s long term family planning methods especially the IUCD which is popularly known as the loop.

BLM’s Behavioral Change Communications Officer for the Northern Region Ian Nkhumbanyiwa said his organization will intensify awareness meetings so that women are motivated and therefore take advantage of free loop days at its Mzuzu Clinic.

“Most women are not forthcoming to access these methods because they do not know of these methods and again because of myths associated with the methods thus why we are trying to clear up myths associated with the methods.

This method is not available in Health Centers but only in District Hospitals and Banja La Mtsogolo Clinics because it requires experts to handle the method, as such, BLM spares one day in every month during which women access loop for free to assist those that cannot afford to pay for the service,” he said.

Nkhumbanyiwa added that long family planning methods are efficient and reliable therefore; women are encouraged to use these methods to reduce number of spontaneous pregnancies which brings burden in families as well as threaten women’s lives.

Family Planning Coordinator for Mzimba North District Health Office Tiyamike Mekani said her office is equally sad with women’s lack of interest in long term methods such as loop, hence its decision to partner with BLM in the sensitization meetings.

“A lot of maternal deaths occur due to unplanned pregnancies which come about due to lack of family planning and undependable short family planning methods hence the  use of long term methods can avoid some of maternal complications,” she said.

She applauded BLM’s initiative of sparing one day every month for women to access free loop service saying the development is complementing government’s effort of improving reproductive health.

Hybrids instigate cancer, BP, Ministry of Agriculture establish

By Frank Kauteka Tembo

Cases of cancer and other related diseases are said to be on an increase in the country due to over consumption of hybrid seeds and livestock which are mostly associated with chemicals, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has established. 

 The development comes barely Friday during the Field day at Mkombezi Community Seed bank in Rumphi district organized by Biodiversity Conservation Initiative (BCI) under a theme ‘using the farmers’ varieties as one way of achieving food security and seed security in terms of climate change.’

Rumphi District Agricultural Development Officer (DADO) Yaz Nyirenda revealed that over consumption of hybrid seeds and livestock in the country is the major contributing factor of various diseases including cancer and High Blood Pressure due to chemicals associated with it.

Nyirenda expressed concern that a lot of farmers have for so long shunned indigenous crops and livestock and concentrated on hybrids which bring a lot of health hazards due to various chemicals applied on it from the time of planting, harvesting, and storage of crops and throughout the growth period of livestock.

"When we look at our grandparents they are still looking healthier than some of our generation just because at their productive age they did not indulge themselves in foods that would bring havoc in their bodies as such they lived energetic lives because the food they were taking in was nutritious and some were medicinal for various diseases that are striking this generation. 

"To say the truth nowadays we can’t survive from various infections because our bodies are weak simply because we take less nutritious foods which are also contaminated. The imported livestock and crops from the western world have betrayed us due to various chemicals being applied throughout the growth period of crops and animals." Nyirenda explained.

He blamed Malawians’ perceptions that everything from the ‘Whites’ is good a development that has led to the abandonment of local crops, livestock, culture, language among other practices of the indigenous.

He thanked BCI for its Community Based Agricultural Management (CIBAM) project which is bringing back the endangered indigenous crops by fetching and multiplying crops so that everyone should have access to it. 

Speaking with the Executive Director for Biodiversity Conservation Initiative Dr. Godwin Mkamanga said his organization is promoting the local seeds in the country as one way of achieving food security and seed security in terms of climate change as indicated in the theme of the Field day.

“Most of crops grown in Malawi is from local varieties  which are farmers’ varieties and most of them are well adapted in terms of rainfall, temperature and diseases as such farmers are assured of getting high yields at the same time the seeds are free as are kept by farmers themselves. 

Internationally, Malawi is a signatory to the international treaty on plant genetic resources, each country is supposed to keep and conserve these resources thus why we [BCI] also promote them,” he said. 

Dr. Mkamanga added that his organization is not meant to discourage farmers using hybrid seeds but rather encourage farmers to using both varieties if the country has to be food secured.

Senior Chief Mwankhunikira of the area in which BCI is working said the project will not only eradicate hunger but also promote culture of the society.

“Let me congratulate BCI for the initiative of restoring indigenous crops that have been abandoned for long due to the coming of the hybrid seeds which in most cases have led the community astray as they have failed to survive in the local environment.

Most places in Rumphi including Mkombezi experience dry conditions, but we have seen here that local seeds planted with the coming of the project have survived than these hybrids an indication that the community can do it without hybrid crops.

Let me encourage our partner BCI to continue and discover more endangered species of crops   and applaud the organization for involving the youths in the project a sign that the project will progress even if funds dry out as the children are the future generation.” Themba Mwankhunikira articulated.

Mwankhunikira assured BCI that he will work tirelessly to ensure that all village headmen in his area have taken part in the project.

Rumphi district has fourteen Community seed banks that were constructed by Find Your Feet organization funded by the Development Fund of Norway (DF) and BCI has been working with Mkombezi and Chikwawa Community Seed Banks since last year with funding from the same DF.

This year the organization has piloted to other two seed banks namely Baliro and Bolero Community Seed Banks within the district.

Locals accuse Politicians of contributing to maternal complications

By Chikondi Chikabadwa 

Lack of political  will on maternal health matters has been described as  major cause of maternal related problems in the Malawi’s northern border, Karonga district, a development that has forced community members to summon their parliamentary candidates in the forthcoming elections to express their commitment towards addressing high maternal deaths and other complications.

  

Among the issues the electorates are demanding their national assembly representatives to explain how they would advocate for more funding for the health sector and their personal commitment towards addressing major issues contributing to the said problem.

According the District Chief Nursing Officer Emily Gondwe, most of the maternal deaths happening in the district are due to lack of maternal health facilities, personnel and equipment, and most parliamentarians for the district appear to be silent on the development hence the community members want to hear their commitment towards the matter and vote for the candidate meeting their needs on maternal issues.

Senior Chief Wasambo of Karonga

“Most women walk long distances to access antenatal services hence most deliver at home or enroot to Chilumba Rural Hospital  because there are no such services at health facilities within their areas due to lack of structures such as maternal wings”, Gondwe saidduring  public debates for the aspiring candidates for Karonga South, and Karonga Nyungwe constitutes.

The debates were supported by the Foundation for Community Support Services (FOCUS) which is implementing the Enhanced Community Based maternal and Neonatal health project in areas of Senior Chief Wasambo and Mwirang’ombe in the district with funding from Christian Aid under the Scottish government.

However, the community members believe such problems would beeasilyaddressed if their Members of Parliament would support them with construction of maternity wings in all health facilities in the district and ensure that the facilities are always fully equipped with necessity medical equipment.

“We have been contributing low materials for constructing such facilities such as sand and bricks but we have been lacking commitmentfrom our Parliamentarians such as financial support hence women are suffering in silence”, said Senior Chief Wasambo during the debate held at Hangalawe in Chilumba, Karonga.

However, five of the six candidates contesting in Karonga South did not attend the debate except incumbent Parliamentarian, Glad Chembe Munthali of the former ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

This did not please the members who later felt the absentees were lacking commitment on maternal health issues affecting the citizens hence their failure to attend the debate.

“We wanted the community members to hear themselves their contesting candidate’s commitment towards improving maternal health issues affecting the people so that the electorates vote for a candidate who meet their demands, and it is unfortunate that some aspirants have failed to attend it for their own reasons,” complained FOCUS Executive Director, Cossam Munthali.

JONEHA urges Malawi journalists to broaden HIV/AIDS coverage

By our reporter

Malawi Media has been urged to regard HIV and AIDS reporting as a priority to ensure that more people understand effects of the pandemic and contribute positively towards the pandemic national response.

The development comes as the country continues to register a high HIV infection which according to authorities is highly affecting development of the nation.

For instance, Malawi with a population of about 15 000 000is registering more than 56 000 new HIV infections every year according to the country’s National Aids Commission, and government is spending Millions of US dollars for treatment of the infections.

“The country is spending a lot of money for HIV and Aids, which would have been saved for other developmental projects such as building schools, health facilities and improve water and sanitation if we had stopped registering new infections,” country’s Top notch HIV Media Activist David Kamkwamba said.

He was speaking during an HIV and Aids media training organized by the Network for Journalists Living with HIV and AIDS (JONEHA), to enhance HIV reporting skills for journalists in Mzuzu City, funded by the National Aids Commission.

“It is therefore the role of the media to change many people’s perception that the pandemic is not an issue or does not exist in Malawi, by widening your [media] coverage on HIV to make people understand its impact on their lives, and help towards the national response,” he added.

The activist who is also Executive Director for JONEHA urged the media practitioners to know their HIV status to be part of the society and effectively contribute towards advocating for HIV and AIDS work policy in various media houses, and improve coverage on HIV.

On their part media houses attended the training including Capital Radio Malawi, Usiska Community Radio, Voice of Livingstonia, Mzimba Community Radio and Malawi Broadcasting Station challenged to broaden their coverage on HIV by engaging the grass roots, and advocate for more funding from the National Annual Budget for procuring HIV prevention resources such as testing kits and condoms.

Chiefs from Karonga in promotion of safe motherhood through by laws

Our reporter

Traditional leaders from areas of senior chief Wasambo and Traditional Authority Mwilang’ombe in Karonga district have established by laws that will see all pregnant women who fail to deliver their babies at the hospitals getting fined.

The bylaws which are set for launching mid April according to Traditional Authority Mwilang’ombe will demand any woman who fails to deliver at the hospital to pay either a cow or a goat as a fine for breaking the rules.

T/A Mwilang’ombe in Karonga

According to Traditional Authority Mwilang’ombe this is part of enhancing community based maternal neonatal and childhood health Project being implemented by Karonga based Foundation for Community Support Services (FOCUS) in the two areas.

The chief revealed that most of the maternal deaths have been occurring in the district following the deliveries that were taking place in the villages.

“In my area two pregnant women have died recently due to such circumstances and it so sad to us because we are loosing mothers who could have been saved from the deaths,” he said.

Mwilang’ombe added that the bylaws are also encouraging men participating in maternal health issues and they are encouraged to escort their expectant wives to the hospital for delivery.

“The bylaws have been made with assistance from the court magistrate, leaders from Foundation for Community Support Services (FOCUS) and other Traditional leaders from the district,” he said.

The traditional leader has therefore requested nongovernmental organizations to support the bylaws so that they become sustainable.

“We ever created by laws to discourage  young girls from getting married and  ensuring that their parents send them to school but unfortunately these by laws met a lot of obstacles and we were not successful but now we are optimistic that it will work,” he explained.

Senior Chief Wasambo also stressed that a lot of women from his area believed in traditional doctors as the right people to assist in giving birth of their babies.

Chief Wasambo testified that there were also other churches that were denying their members from delivering at the hospitals.

He mentioned that fortunately all this is gradually changing and a lot of people have now trust in the hospitals.

He pointed out that it is wise for a chief to have issues of safe motherhood at heart because women highly contribute to the community's development.

The project which was launched by FOCUS last year is geared at reducing maternal related complications in the two areas and it is expected to phase out next year.

According to the Project Coordinator Wakisa Sichali, the project has already seen the reduction of maternal deaths from eighteen in 2012 to sixteen in 2013.