* To run for a period of three months in which beneficiaries will be receiving a 50kg bag of maize, 3kg of beans, 1kg of salt, 1 litre of cooking oil, and K15,000 cash support for maize milling
* The districted Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee report indicates that a total of 19,017 households have been affected by food insecurity
By Victor Singano Jnr.
In response to a report by Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC), which indicates that a total of 19,017 households have been affected by food insecurity in Neno, Partners In Health (PIH) has rolled out a relief food distribution programme targeting 3,000 households who are currently facing food crisis and in need of urgent support in the district.
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At a cost of K1.2 billion, the programme will run for a period of three months in which beneficiaries will see the people from the area receiving a 50kg bag of maize, 3kg of beans, 1kg of salt, 1 litre of cooking oil, and K15,000 cash support for maize milling.
Through one of its initiatives, Programme on Social Economic Rights (POSER), the Executive Director of the non-governmental organisation (NGO), Basimenye Nhlema indicated that out of the affected 19,017 households, the government has provided food to 15,890 families.
Hence they thought it wise to come in and support government and all other development partners’ efforts, considering that health is directly linked to food security.
Speaking during the launch at Chiponde Community Hall, Nhlema said: “Our partnership with Neno not seasonal, it is a permanent bond. We are here in the health clinics, in the nutrition programmes, and in the communities.
“Therefore, whenever additional funds and resources become available to us, we’ll not hesitate to come up with more relief items because the list is readily available and the structures are in place.”
Present was Neno District Commissioner, Alfred Hauya, who commended PIH for the timely initiative, saying it will help to save lives of many needy people who were in a serious hunger situation.
Hauya mentioned that the district registered a big number of families lacking food since rains stopped early during the last planting season, rendering them not to harvest.
“Since the report concerning hunger situation was released we’ve seen government taking a role in distributing food to a good number of families, so with the initiative taken by PIH it is going to bring a huge change.
“As you’re aware, when hunger strikes it is always difficult for members of the communities to contribute to the developmental activities taking place in the areas and also participation of learners in class and focus get affected.
“With this program our area will definitely going to have people who will be contributing positively to the developmental projects,” said Hauya.
One of the beneficiaries, Lonny Maganga hailed PIH for the support which she said has come at a right time when her family was struggling to buy maize for a long time.
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