Covid-19 rates soar in Malawi
Like many sub- saharan countries Malawi is continually fighting against disease whether it be the ever present malaria or more recently, as the rest of the world, coronavirus. At the end of December there had been a total of 6000 cases in Malawi but by the end of January the number of cases had quadrupled bringing the total to 23953. This sudden increase is thought to be due to the emergence of the highly transmissible South African variant.
The already overburdened health service is stretched, there are no vaccines available, not even for doctors and other healthcare workers, and many of them are succumbing to the disease. Medicine sans Frontiere (MSF) is appealing for only 40,000 vaccines to secure the well-being of health service frontline workers and thereby keeping the health service operational.
To read more about this difficult situation click on the link below to a CN news report
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/08/africa/malawi-covid-19-vaccine-nationalism-intl/index.html
Other News
Distributing Baby Clothes
Volunteers have been to the maternity unit at the Matawale Health Centre, just 15 kms away from Sitima, to deliver baby clothes to new born babies. Most women give birth at home but for some who experience a complicated pregnancy or birth.
Christmas Tree Festival at St Faith’s
Volunteer Sheila Cogley and friends decorated N4BW tree with lots of colourful decorations in Malawi style.
International Women’s Day
Its wonderful to think that all over the world, on this day, women are being celebrated. We are having our celebrations here in Sitima too.