I guess you are wondering why it took me long to update my blog. Well we now have full time access to the internet.
This month ( May ) I thank the almighy God that I have clocked a year with DBU. I have witnessed some results through Tiombenkota programme. Among them:
• The community through Tikolesyane Radio Listening Club (RLC), T.A Kaluluma in Kasungu were concerned with the unavailability of condoms, we lobbied government, Ministry of Health Reproductive Health Unit, UNFPA and PSI though Tiombenkota and the community now has access to the female condom, and at national level PSI launched the female condom, and is scaling up the availability.
• A 12 year old girl was raped in Mzimba by a 43 year old man we lobbied the government, Malawi Law Commission, Human Rights Organisations to formulate a specific HIV/AIDS policy because currently There is no specific law on deliberate HIV infection law that the affected can seek remedial action. A special law commission led by Father Joseph Mpinganjira has made final consultations and will submit the report to the Ministry of Justice . The National HIV/AIDS Legislation is due to be debated in parliament this year 2008. But I doubt if will be debated with all the developments going on in our country.
• On the need to support people living with HIV and AIDS with a good nutrition we lobbied government, Non Governmental Organisations and human rights organisation on the need to support the PLWAs, Government has started, giving civil servants who tested HIV positive a monthly allowance of K5,000.00 upon declaration of their HIV sero- status to meet their nutrition and travel expenses.
Government is also giving plumpy nuts (Chiponde) to the people living with HIV and AIDS in both the rural and urban areas to support their nutritional requirements, when they test HIV positive.
There is a lot that we have achieved in the professional arena, and I owe it all to DBU facilitators, the RLCs and the community who raised their concerns, the panelists from government, non governmental organisations who took action.
It has not been easy though, twice I was stricken by storms. There was a time I recorded three programs, but only one was audible, I don’t know what happened to the other programmes. On another trip I discovered that my machine could not record anything three minutes before the panel discussion and I had the professors and Doctors and Directors waiting for almost 30 Minutes and just postponed the discussion to a later date. I felt so embarrassed like and sorry could not be good enough to the panellists who came despite their busy schedules. But anyway I quote the words of Dell Crossword : “Success is not permanent, the same is also true of failure.
Some of the challenges that I continue to face is task shifting,that the senior officer delegating a junior to the panel discussion, we do understand their busy schedule, but sometimes I think they are not doing justice, because at the end of the day when we ask the panelists for action to the problem presented, the junior staff will always say let me go and consult.
Some of the people from the government side will actually ask how much lunch allowance they will get, nanji a parliamentarian amafuna zambiri: T and T, accomodation at the executive hotels, a fat per diem.
On the social aspect: I have had some good times with my friends and collegues. I am looking forward to more wonderful times ahead. Patrick Manja I am very sorry for forgeting you in the list of people who mean a lot to me. I had not intended to hurt you. I love you.
This week Saturday we have a fundraising braiii for our St Kizito mphakati. at Mr and Mrs Nagoli’s residence in Chiwembe (Pa Corner shop) You are invited.
DBU is in the process of becoming a local NGO, this year, so please pray for us that we should accomplish the mission.
My thoughts on some current issues
On the former president’s arrest
I give a benefit of doubt on the coup detait allegations against Muluzi. I feel its time for the former president to rest and concentrate in his family business, because I don’t see any chances of him winning the presidential elections. After ruling for 10 years what more does he want to contribute to the warm heart of Africa? A tcheya afuna kukhala ngati a Uncle Bob (Mugabe) bwanji. But he still has a huge fan, yesterday when he was appealing at the high court I saw some women clad in yellow wraps, and men carrying placards. Anthuwo amene akuwamenyerera akuyenda pa magalimoto iwowo achita kuyenda pansi from as far as kwa Bvumbwe, abale inu kumvetsa chisoni.
On knowledge gaps on HIV/AIDS
My sister was invited to a training of primary teachers on HIV/AIDS conducted by the Central Education Division. During one of the session on prevention, an Education personnel ‘Pair’ told the attentive partcipants that the female condom can be used twice, a woman can wash it and use it again.
Abale this is so sad, that this was coming from a learned person.Maybe he needed to be educated on the use of the condom prior to the training.
Next time I will share with you an interview with a young lady that moved my heart.
Good bye
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1 comment:
great and informative post. Politcs in Malawi is very exciting. Keep blogging. I personaly would love to read more about those human issues and people you address in your programmes. Once again, this is great Pauline-I could see smiles n the post.
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