MALAWI: ECM Health Commission encouraged to Collaborate and Share Best Practices on TB Prevention
The Catholic Health Commissions of all the dioceses in the country have been urged to work together professionally and produce quality results during the implementation of the Action Aid funded program called Community TB Prevention and Care project.
The call was made by the Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, Rev Fr. Henry Saindi at Linde Motel in Mponela, when he opened a three days induction workshop for Health commission staff from all dioceses and the national Office.
The workshop was organized by the National office with the aim of orienting the five dioceses joining the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, diocese of Mzuzu and Karonga in the implementation of the Program. This is due to the opportunity given to the church by Action Aid to implement the program in all the dioceses in the country.
In his remarks Fr. Saindi said the program which aims at reducing the impact of TB among rural Malawians is a huge responsibility entrusted to the church and therefore the dioceses should do what is expected of them in the best way they can and use the finances accordingly for the church to impact the lives of rural Malawians and compliment government efforts in addressing this health problem.
“It’s not a secret that TB is a major public health problem in Malawi as its prevalence rate is so high. HIV
remains the highest risk factor for developing active TB disease hence the reason Action Aid is focusing on both HIV and TB modules of which we are handling. Statistics show how serious TB is and how it calls for our serious interventions to mitigate this disease. I therefore urge all the dioceses to concentrate on what this program can do to improve the lives of the people the church is mandated to save,” Said Fr. Saindi
He encouraged the dioceses to be guided by the ECM 2018-2022 strategic framework which recognizes health as one of the challenges that undermine growth and development adding that, to have a healthy nation and develop the country, the church needs to implement preventive and curative interventions which is in line with the church’s mission of continuing the healing ministry of Jesus Christ through the promotion of human life through non- discriminatory health services in rural and urban areas.
He also thanked the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, diocese of Mzuzu and Karonga for making ECM proud for the successful implementation of the program with the first grant during the first two years which has now enabled Action Aid to trust the Church with the second grant to implement the program at national level.
In her remarks, National health coordinator, Mrs. Bertha Magomero said the opportunity given to the church to implement the program at national level is a plus for the church urging the incoming diocese to emulate the good example of the other dioceses.
“This is a plus for the church as it can be seen that the church is doing a recommendable work and that we are a trusted partner. The program will help the people in rural areas to be reached with health services through sputum collection which is assessed and then provide medical services to the people with TB right in their areas. This will reduce the long distances people usually travel to access these services and the number of people screened and treated will increase,” Said Mrs. Magomero.
Community TB Prevention and Care project is a two years program implemented by all the eight Catholic dioceses in the country and ECM is a sub recipient of the Global fund grants channeled through Action Aid Malawi.
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By: Stella Zulu, ECM
