Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - Save the Children organisation has launched programmes in Malawi to improve healthcare and education mainly by involvement of local communities. Save the Children has operated in Malawi since 1983 and in the last 12 months, considering the spread of HIV/AIDS and catastrophic effects on children it has focused on support for families, education-prevention and mitigation of the pandemic’s effects.
The first programmes for healthcare and education were launched in the central northern districts of Mzimba and Kasungu in view of gradually reaching the south of the country to include the districts of Mangochi, Dedzda, Balka and others. Save the Children now operates in 18 of the country’s 28 districts and its programmes reach over 2 million people.
The aim of the education programme in the districts of Balaka, Mangochi and Blantyre is to support village community schools to guarantee access to education to an ever greater number of school-age children. Activities in 171 schools involve about 92,000 pupils and consist in education to personal hygiene and how to treat and prevent common illnesses. Food producing vegetable gardens were started in 9 schools for the benefit of about 76,550 children. Water wells and sanitation have been installed in many schools.
In its Malawi programme Save the Children focuses on prevention, treatment and reducing the impact of HIV/AIDS in the district of Blantyre one of the most affected districs where 93.400 adults are HIV positive.
Another aim is to increase communities’ capacity to treat and assist orphans and other vulnerable people and the chronically ill by building 10 community centres to assist children (install or repair water pumps, supply didactic material and train operators); psycho-social support to help children; promotion of 6 workshops with members of the community and the creation of 10 youth groups. (AP) (21/7/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:32; Parole: 376)
