Women Groups Call For Interface Meeting With Chiefs
By Vincent Bwinga (Justice and Peace Field Officer)
In response to the prevailing conditions, compounded by negative socio-cultural beliefs, which prevent women from enjoying their rights, women and girls groups in the areas of traditional authorities Nthalire and Wenya have decided to break the silence and stand up for their rights by taking duty bearers to task.
Women have since summoned chiefs and other prominent members in the area to an interface meeting. In the letter which women have addressed to chiefs in the two traditional authorities, women have cited for example limited access to productive assets like land and limited participation of women in decision making processes.
According to the letter signed by women’s task force members, women have called on chiefs and all men in the area to take action to ensure that women also enjoy their economic and political rights; through permanent land tenure and appointment or election into leadership position.
“We are prepared to face chiefs during this interface meeting. It is high time we [women] voiced out our concern and advocate for our own rights in our community,” said Tereza Mkamanga, Chairperson for Nthalire Women Task Force.
Denzie Kayira from traditional Authority Mwenewenya said that women experience so many challenges in their villages but they fail to speak out due to culture of silence which prevents them from doing so.
He further said that through women group mentoring sessions organized by Justice and Peace Desk, women have realized their rights, hence the urge to demand them from their leaders.
Over 100 women from Thumbo, Chisenga, Nthalire and Wenya have formed task forces in their zones to mobilize fellow women to participate in the interface meetings. This is an initiative under the Catholic Agency for Oversea Development funded women’s rights projects which encourages women to take an active role in defending their rights.
CCJP Uses Football Competition as a Platform for Promoting Health Rights
By Wezi Mwangonde
The Justice and Peace Desk of the Catholic Diocese of Karonga has said the strategy of football competitions to mobilize community members in rural areas has helped in the sustainability of the Health governance project.
Catechist Francis Sichali, leader of CCJP Health Governance Project volunteers revealed to Tuntufye FM at Mpata in Karonga District that most community members shun away from meetings they organize hence the message they disseminate does not reach out to many.
He added that knowing that football attracts many people, they decided to use it as a way of empowering rural communities on health rights for them to participate effectively in the management of public health services.
Speaking at the same function, Moses Mwakisalu, a CCJP official, urged traditional leaders in the area to help their members understand health rights in order to demand quality health services which is the major aims of the project.
“Mpata is a rural area, therefore football bonanza as one of the local activities helps to mobilize community members thereby communicating health governance rights effectively’’ said Mwakisalu.
Concurring with Mwakisalu, one of the football prayers of Nkhando FC Hasting Mwakapeye said many people came to the health governance bonanza because CCJP involved local teams which is the best way of delivering messages to people in rural areas.
“I am personally very impressed with the strategy that CCJP has put forward and the message has been delivered” said Mwakapeye.
The football bonanza was between Lupaso and Nkhando FC, at the end of the bonanza Nkhando FC emerged victors.
CCJP is empowering people in health governance project with funding from Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA)
CCJP Improves Relationships between Health Workers and Communities
By Deodatus Muriya (Monitoring and Evaluation Desk Officer)
The Justice and Peace Desk of Karonga Diocese has contributed to the improvement of relationships between health workers and communities in Karonga and Chitipa through the Health Governance Project funded by the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA).
This was revealed during the Review and Planning meeting the Desk held at Viphya in Chilumba from 26th to 28th December, 2017. The meeting reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the ‘Promotion of High Quality, Accountable and Responsive Public Health Service Delivery’ project. The meeting also reviewed the Detailed Implementation Plan of the project.
The Justice and Peace Desk Officer, Mr Louis Nkhata, said he was impressed with the progress the project is making against the indicators as presented in the report from the Monitoring and Evaluation Desk. He further said that through capacity building of community structures, community awareness and engagement with duty bearers, the project has strengthened collaboration between health workers and people from the communities.
Mr Nkhata said that the main focus now would be to engage the Central Government to reveal the drug budget as allocated to different health facilities since drugs are purchased centrally from the Central Medical Stores and supplied directly to health facilities. He even district hospitals are not aware of the funds allocated them in terms of drugs and the quantity of drugs they are supposed to receive.
CCJP Empowers Youth and Women to Demand Quality Health Services
By Norbert Mzembe
The Justice and Peace Desk of Karonga Diocese has empowered the youth and women to demand quality health services from public health facilities in Karonga District.
Moses Mwakisalu, one of the facilitators from the Justice and Peace Desk, said the organization has learnt that women and youth in the district face challenges to access quality health services in various health facilities. He further said, the youth and women do not demand for these services due to lack of capacity.
Mwakisalu mentioned that the population of this country largely comprises of the youth who contribute much to the development of the nation hence the need for them to participate in decision making processes that would help improve their health standards.
“It is for this reason that we have empowered the youth in Karonga District to accessibility of high quality health services for all regardless of their age,” said Mwakisalu.
He said, “We are training these youths and women to be knowledgeable in health issues because they are the heaviest users of health services. In most cases they are deprived of their right to health services by duty bearers due to ignorance.”
He further expressed optimism that following the training, youth and women in Karonga District will now be able to enjoy health services being offered in the district by demanding accountability from duty bearers where necessary.
Karonga District Youth Officer (DYO), Jessie Mwansambo, commended the initiative by the CCJP saying it will really transform the living standards of the youths.
“We as the DYO, we are behind the initiative and my office will negotiate with the district council to give room for the youths to address their concerns pertaining to the challenges they are facing when accessing health services,” said Mwansambo.
She emphasized that being the leaders of today and tomorrow, youths deserve quality health services so that they can contribute effectively to the development of the nation.
Commenting on the matter, chairperson of the Health Service Committee for Karonga District Council, McDonald Tengamowa Munthali, urged the participants to collaborate with Health Advisory Committees in their areas. He also urged them to channel their complaints on health service delivery to the District Council.
The CCJP is empowering the youths and women to participate in the management of public health services through its Osisa funded health governance project. The project is being implemented in Karonga and Chitipa districts.
Karonga CCJP Calls for the Provision of Essential Drugs and Medical Equipment to Sere Clinic
By Ephraim Nyirenda – TFM
The Justice and Peace Desk of Karonga Diocese has called on government to ensure that essential drugs and medical equipment are provided to Sere Clinic in Kayerekera to make it fully functional.
Speaking at an interface meeting held at Kayerekera, Justice and Peace Desk Officer for Karonga Diocese said communities in Kayerekera have a right to timely appropriate health care. This he said, entails availability of well supplied health facilities.
He further urged communities to use every means possible to engage duty bearers to fulfil their health rights.
“You need to utilize every means at your disposal to make your voices heard. You need to make noise through different platforms like media, panel discussion, interface meetings to make the duty bearers act on your plight.
During the meeting, community members of Kayerekera lamented that Sere Clinic is not functional months after it was handed over to Karonga District Council by Paladin Africa a part of corporate social responsibility. The facility was handed over without essential drugs, furniture and medical equipment
“We are struggling to get medical services for us and our children yet we have a health facility in our area. The nearest health facility is at Wiliro, fifteen kilometres away. Due to transport challenges in our area, we walk on foot to reach the facility which is also poorly stocked.” Said one community member.
She asked the government to equip Sere Clinic to be providing maternity and outpatient services to Kayerekera community to ease their challenges.
Speaking in solidarity with his subjects, Paramount Chief Kyungu expressed dissatisfaction with the clinic which was handed over without drugs, chairs and medical equipment.
“When I was invited to grace the handover ceremony, I did not turn up because I did not want to receive an incomplete thing.” He said. “I will be available during the official handover when the government will be handing over the clinic with all equipment available.”
Answering on behalf of Karonga District Council, Isaac Mkandawire who is the Council’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, said the council was engaging the Ministry of Health to provide necessary support to the clinic by January, 2018.
CCJP Hailed for the Decline in Child Marriage Cases in Kameme
By Deodatus Muriya (Monitoring and Evaluation Officer)
Senior Traditional Authority Kameme has hailed the Justice and Peace Desk of Karonga Diocese for the decline in child marriage cases in his area.
The traditional leader said this during the field monitoring exercise conducted by the Monitoring and Evaluation Desk of Karonga Diocese from 14th to 15th December, 2017.
“We have seen a tremendous reduction in child marriage cases. Between July and December, 2017 my area has registered only one case as compared to the many cases reported in the same period last year.” Said STA Kameme. He attributed this to the village awareness meetings conducted CCJP volunteers in the area.
Now that the fight against child marriages is being won, the traditional leader said there was need for more capacity building sessions for traditional leaders in justice delivery systems. These, he said, will help them address other social justice problems communities are facing.
In his remarks, CC Chavula, who is Police Officer In-Charge for Soperera Police Unit, said there is good working relationship between the police and CCJP volunteers. He said they collaborate in conducting community awareness meetings.
Mr Deodatus Muriya, who is the Diocesan Monitoring and Evaluation Desk Officer, said the aim of the visit was to assess the progress of Promotion of Enjoyment of Women and Children’s Rights in Chitipa District Project which CCJP is implementing with support from Misereor.
“So far the project is progressing well and there is good coordination among CCJP staff, volunteers and other relevant stakeholders.” Said Mr Muriya. He further said the project will meet its targets by May 2019 is the current trend continues.
The monitoring team interacted with key stakeholders in the areas of traditional authorities Mwenemisuku, Mwaulambiya and Kameme in Chitipa District.
Traditional Leader Urges Girls to Have a Clear Vision to Excel in Education
By Vincent Bwinga
Senior Group Village Headman Jodi has urged the students, especially girls, to have a clear vision of the future they want and be focused in their education to achieve it.
He said this at Therere CDSS in Nthalire during a role modeling event organized by the Justice and Peace Desk of Karonga Diocese. Addressing students, SGVH Jodi said many girls go to school without any dream for the future. Education, for them, means nothing more than pastime; as such they easily fall into the trap of early marriages.
“Girls don’t make yourself cheap, tell your boys that no education, no Love. Everything else should wait, your education first.” The traditional leader said. He urged girls to report to any traditional leader if anyone tries to disturb their education.
During the same event, a female role model, Lumbani Kawonga, encouraged girls to work hard in school to achieve their dreams.
Lumbani Kawonga, a 22 year old primary school teacher shared her life experience highlighting the difficulties she overcame to be what she were. She expressed that most of her contemporaries at the school fell prey to early marriages and dropped out of school.
Lumbani Kawonga is the pride of Therere CDSS since she did her Junior Secondary education at the same school.
Reacting to Lumbani Kawonga’s story, Juliana Sibale said it was rare and strange to find educated girls in the area. The 17 year old girl said many girls in their area face challenges and many resign to them. She advised her fellow students to refrain from behaviors that might ruin their.
Lack of role models in Nthalire and many areas in Chitipa District demotivates many girls from going further with education. The role modeling activity is a deliberate attempt by the Justice and Peace Desk to promote girl child education.
The activity brought together students, teachers, chiefs, parents and Women Rights Group members from Nthalire zone. This is one of the activities under Community Managed Women and Girls Rights Advocacy Project (CMWRA) funded by CAFOD.
CCJP Karonga Calls for More Support for Girls Rescued from Early Marriages
By Vincent Bwinga
Some girls rescued from early marriages and readmitted to school struggle to continue with their education due to lack support to keep them in school.
This was disclosed at Thumbo during a monitoring and documentation exercise conducted by Justice and Peace Field Officer, Vincent Bwinga.
Speaking during the exercise, Boniface Kayira, Chairperson of Women Rights Group (WRG) for Thumbo Zone said having rescued the girls, the challenge becomes how to keep them in school. He said some of those rescued find it hard to survive in school beyond one year. He attributed this to lack of support from parents or guardians and even community members. Further, he said poor parents fail to provide for these girls and marrying them off is usually a way of running away from responsibility.
“Due to lack of support some of these girls lose interest is education and opt to remarry to get provisions. There is need for deliberate interventions to keep these girls in school,” said Kayira.
Concurring with Kayira, one of the girls [name withheld] said she remarried a year after she went back to school because her parents were not supportive and showed no interest in her education. She got married at the age of 15.
During the lifespan of women and girls’ rights projects in the areas of traditional authorities Wenya and Nthalire, the Justice and Peace Desk of Karonga Diocese has rescued 54 girls from early marriages. Out of these, 15 girls dropped out of school and remarried. Out of the remaining 39, 25 are secondary school students while 14 are in primary school. Most of these girls are between 15 and 18 years of age.
The Justice and Peace Desk of Karonga Diocese has been implementing women and girls’ rights projects in the area since 2013 with funding from Catholic Agency for Oversees Development (Cafod). The current project, which runs to March, 2018, is called Community Managed Women and Girls Rights Advocacy.