MALAWI: Karonga Braces up Against Covid-19 Pandemic
By Moses Kamanga, Tuntufye FM
Malawi woke up to 2 confirmed cases of Covid-19 a couple of less than a month ago and the cases have already risen to nineteen, with 2 deaths reported. It is in these terrifying moments that the Catholic Diocese of Karonga brings spiritual and physical hope.
First it opened its radio station (Tuntufye FM) to the District Health Officials; offered free one-hour broadcasting air space to give people all the necessary preventive information. Despite this aerial combat strategy, the Diocese has foot soldiers on the ground led by the Diocesan Bishop’s Advisory Committee on COVID 19 who have distributed leaflets with messages on the Coronavirus in all prayer centres in eight parishes and two sub-parishes.
Further, the Diocese has conducted trainings of the leaders of its institutions, cooks and housekeepers of the presbyteries and convents.
Considering that prevention is not enough, the Diocese through its generous partners has purchased 12 oxygen concentration machines out of the planned 23 to assist in the event that the pandemic strikes the Diocese hard.
“These will be placed in all Catholic health facilities which include at St. Anne’s Community Hospital, Atupere, Kaseye, St. Clare in Chisenga and Hope clinic. Since the machines will need electric power and we can not rely on the national grid which rations electricity according to its load shedding schedules, we have also procured power generators.” Explains Mr. Mwawi Shaba, Caritas Secretary and Chairperson on the Advisory Committee on COVID 19 in the Diocese.
Earlier, Rt. Rev. Martin Mtumbuka the bishop of Karonga Diocese, shared this news of hope on the diocesan radio where he also indicated that an ambulance has been set aside to be equipped with state-of-the-art health equipment to assist in rushing patients who will need immediate medical attention from a referral hospital.
“We are not bragging about this, and we can not pretend to have the best equipment because bigger and better hospitals are in Europe, United States of America (USA) and Asia but even there the pandemic is still causing problems. We are only trying to do what we can…” said Bishop Mtumbuka in the radio special programme.
He further expressed his gratitude to the donor partners in USA and Germany who have assisted in this project with funds amounting to approximately US $95,000.
Currently, Malawi Government has sanctioned a 21-day lockdown from the mid-night of 18th of April to 9th of May, subject to extension depending on the situation.
