Covid-19 Preparedness and Response: Action Taken by Diocese of Karonga to Date
Introduction
Coronavirus disease, pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan, China, was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) on 31st December, 2019. The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January, 2020.
On 11 February 2020, WHO announced a name for the new coronavirus disease: COVID – 19; and declared it a pandemic on 11 March, 2020. As of 5 May, 2020, the world has registered 3,659,103 positive cases and 252,573 deaths. As of the same date, Malawi had recorded 41 confirmed cases and 3 deaths; with one case recorded in Karonga.
The Diocese of Karonga has taken a number of steps in Covid-19 preparedness and response. This therefore presents the actions taken by the Diocese of Karonga and progress made in the same.
Establishment of Advisory Committee to the Bishop on COVID-19 (ACB)
On 23rd March, 2020, Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka presided over extra-ordinary meeting on coronavirus involving Curia staff members, Lusubilo Community Care staff and Tuntufye Radio representative. As there were variations in the level of preparedness and response, need for coordinated efforts at Diocese level was felt. To this effect, the Bishop established Advisory Committee to the Bishop on Covid-19. The Committee is chaired by the Caritas Secretary, Mwawi Shaba, and it comprises of selected members of Curia staff, representatives of Diocesan health facilities, Lusubilo Community Care and Tuntufye FM Radio.
The aim of the ACB is to strengthen the protection of people within the Diocese of Karonga from COVID-19 and provide treatment and care for those suffering from the disease.
Procured and installed life-saving Oxygen Concentrators and power generators in all its 5 health facilities
The Diocese of Karonga has so far procured and installed 12 oxygen concentrators and 5 generators in all five health facilities of the Diocese, namely; Atupere Community Hospital, Hope Clinic, Kaseye Health Centre, St Anne’s Community Hospital and St Clara Clinic.
Refurbishing and Customizing an Ambulance
The Diocese if in the process of refurbishing and customizing an ambulance to the level of an Intensive Care Unit for ferrying critical patients to Mzuzu Central Hospital from areas under the Diocese of Karonga.
Setting up an Ambulance Rapid Response Team
A specialised team comprised of 10 medical, nursing personnel and drivers to be stationed at the headquarters to provide emergency response when the pandemic becomes acute in the Diocese. Members are drawn from the 5 health facilities of the Diocese. These will be supported by the government district hospitals.
Conducting training to all staff in all the 5 heath facilities
Workers in Diocesan health facilities have been trained about COVID-19, preventive measures, contact tracing and operation of treatment equipment.
Procure and deliver PPE to all workers of the Diocese including in all the 5 health facilities
Carrying awareness to staff, priest and local Church leaders
Training of Pastoral Council members from 12 parishes in the Diocese
Promoting prevention measures in all Diocese establishments including offices and prayer centres and promoting the same in families
Figure 3: Faithful wash hands before & after Sunday Liturgy at Chibanji Prayer Centre before suspension of public liturgical celebrations
Broadcasting radio programme and messages
The Diocesan Radio, Tuntufye FM, broadcasts countless programmes and messages on COVID-19 reaching out to over 1 million people in the north of Malawi
Developing and disseminating posters on COVID-19
A total of 145300 posters have been produced and distributed in the Diocese of Karonga
Financial Support
- Archdiocese of Munich
- The Mathile Foundation
- Manus Unidas
- Catholic Cross
- Major James Nyirenda
- Archdiocese of Padarborn
Activities the Diocese wants to do next
- Raising mass awareness regarding COVID-19 especially in rural communities.
- Support communities and various public places with personal hygiene facilities; e.g. masks, gloves and hand washing facilities.
- Economically support vulnerable families affected by the COVID-19.
- Continue supporting health facilities in the treatment of COVID-19 cases including supplying PPE.
Contacts
For more information about these and for those who would want to help please contact the ACB leadership as follows:
Mwawi Shaba – Chairperson Email: mshaba@karongadiocese.org
2019/2020 Floods and Strong Winds: A Report From St. Joseph The Worker Cathedral – Karonga, Malawi
By Mons Denis S. Chitete – CATHEDRAL ADMINISTRATOR*
From the month of November 2019 to April 2020, Karonga District experienced heavy rains and strong winds, which led to many families being displaced either because of floods or roofs of their houses being blown-off. The children and the elderly are the most affected.
Some of the most affected areas in our parish are: Baka, Vilaule, Mwamasapa, Mpata, Silu and Mbwiri.
The floods washed away household assets such as; food reserves, livestock, beds, beddings and kitchen utensils. The strong winds blew off the roofs from many houses and in some cases literally destroyed the houses.
The victims of the floods and strong winds were re-located to a few camps which the government and some non-governmental organisations created in the upper lands.
Even though some of the victims have gone back to their homes, there are many who still live in the camps. These camps are generally congested. This means that the occupants are prone to communicable diseases due to poor sanitation. Some camps do not have enough toilets, posing serious health challenges to the occupants. The people sleep without mosquito nets and this is exposes them to malaria, which is the highest cause of deaths especially, among children and elderly in Malawi.
Even before the closure of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the floods affected the education of school-going children because some of them were locked in the camps when it was too dangerous for them to walk to school. On 10th march, one school pupil was swept away by the flood water on his way to school in Kalongolera Village in Karonga District. His dead body was recovered after several days. On the other hand, some schools were being used as temporary camps for the victims of the floods which meant that most school activities had to be suspended.
Just like children in the flooded areas were not able to go to school, the same children and their parents also found it difficult to go to church to pray. So, Church attendance during the same period dropped drastically.
In my opinion the recovery programme to the victims of the floods and strong winds ought to be twofold: material and spiritual.
At the moment, some of the materials that are immediately required to support the affected families include; food items (maize, beans, cooking oil), mosquito nets, chlorine, clothes, tents, beddings, cups and plates, mats and mattresses.
In the long term, many families need help to reconstruct their houses while some families may need to be relocated.
Spiritually, the victims of the floods and strong winds need a lot of prayers and accompaniment. Some have lost faith in the Good God.
Reading from John 14:1we learn that Jesus said, “Do not be afraid; trust in God and trust in me.” John 14:27b “Do not be troubled; do not be afraid.”
Romans 8: 18-21a “Everything that has been made in the world is weak. It is not that the world wanted it to be that way. God allowed it to be that way. Yet there is hope. 21 Everything that has been made in the world will be set free from the power that can destroy.”
Romans 8:31”What shall we say after this? If God is with us, who shall be against us?”
We hope and pray that the religious leaders, government and other well-wishers will find ways of materially and spiritually assisting the victims of the floods and strong winds to recover and return to their normal life as soon as possible.
Here-below are some of the photos of the situation in Karonga.
*The writer is the Vicar General of the Diocese of Karonga and Administrator of St Joseph the Worker Cathedral Parish
Catholic Scouts Cheer the Sick at Karonga District Hospital
By Deodatus Muriya (Scout Coordinator)
The Catholic Scouts of St Joseph the Worker Cathedral and St Mary’s parishes in the Diocese of Karonga on 3rd March, 2020 donated assorted items (sugar, sweets, and washing soap) in the Children’s Ward at the Karonga District Hospital.
This was one way of celebrating the birthday of the founder of Scouts, Robert Barden Powell, which falls on 22nd February.
“We found it necessary to visit the hospital to interact with patients and also share with them the message of hope” Said Miss Evelyn Kamanga, Treasurer for St Joseph and St Mary’s parishes Catholic Scout Group.
She further said that the resources for the donation were mobilized among members of the grouping. She pledged the group’s commitment to continue carrying out charity work.
Speaking on behalf of fellow guardians, Margret Namfukwe expressed a word of gratitude to the group for providing support to their children who were sick.
The Nurse in Charge of the Children’s Ward Sangwani Kondowe also thanked the Catholic Scouts for visiting the Children ward.
“In hospital we receive different patients with different background. Some come without beddings and others do not have food. We are encouraging Catholic Scouts to continue doing the good work they have started.
Catholic Scouts Cheer Sick at Chitipa District Hospital
By Deodatus Muriya (Scout Coordinator)
As part of Christmas celebration, Catholic Scouts of St Michael’s Parish in the Diocese of Karonga, on 26 December, 2019, visited the sick in the male ward at Chitipa District Hospital where among other things they donated assorted items such as sugar, orange squash and soap.
According to the Chair Lady of St Michael’s Parish Scouts, Miss Leah Nyondo, the grouping’s objective for the just ended year was to help the sick and assist at least one woman in need.
“We felt it was necessary to interact with patients during this festive season to share with them a message of hope and that God has not forgotten them,” said Nyondo.
She further said, they conduct several fundraising to raise funds to fulfill the two objectives.
The nurses on duty in the male ward were very grateful for the donation and also encouraged the group to continue with charity work.
Congregation of Immaculate Conception of Mary Fathers Visit Karonga Diocese
By Chimwemwe Chisi
The Diocese of Karonga recently received members of the Congregation of Immaculate Conception of Mary (CICM) led by their Superior General, the Very Reverend Father Charles Phukuta, who came on a familiarisation tour of the Diocese.
The congregation is set to open a mission in the Diocese of Karonga in 2020, and will open Immaculate Heart of Mary (Chisankhwa) Parish and will also be responsible for the establishment and running of the spirituality centre of the Diocese.
Their weeklong visit is of great importance to the Diocese as it is one way of strengthening the relationship between the priests of the congregation and the Diocese of Karonga. During their visit, the CICM Fathers visited several places in the Diocese of Karonga as one way of learning and getting to know the environment and the people prior to their stay in the Diocese next year.
The CICM Fathers were met welcomed in the Diocese of Karonga, by Right Reverend Martin Anwel Mtumbuka, on the 6th of November and went straight to their first leg of their tour of the Diocese. The visitors were taken to Wovwe, then to Matinkhula in Nyungwe where there is a proposed site for a new parish, where they also interacted with Christians. Lastly, they visited Ngala at the proposed site for a pastoral centre where they were received with warm welcome full of joy and songs.
CICM were given some presents which symbolised the culture and economic activities taking place in the area such as weaver’s baskets, and tomatoes.
In his speech, one of the fathers, Rev Aubrey Sumbukeni said he was overwhelmed with the warm welcome from the people and was looking forward to working with the people in proclaiming the Word of God. He further urged Christians to pray for one another so as to bear fruits in proclaiming the gospel.
The Bishop of the Diocese of Karonga Right Reverend Martin Anwel Mtumbuka, expressed his gratitude towards the visitors since their visit is not an ordinary one rather enriching to the diocese since it is all about to share experience and knowledge.
The Very Rev. Fr Charles Phukuta the Superior General of CICM has led his confreres in this journey.
Bishop Mtumbuka Calls for Justice if Peace Is to Prevail
By Jordan Simeon-Phiri
Correspondent
Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka of the Diocese of Karonga has called upon all people in the country to rise above party politics when discharging their duties in a just manner if peace is to prevail in the country, saying there cannot be peace in a country where there is no justice.
Bishop Mtumbuka made these remarks on Friday at St. Mary’s Hall in Karonga District at a stakeholders’ peace conference he held aimed at finding lasting solutions to political tension in Karonga and Chitipa.
The meeting comes on the sidelines of waves of continued demonstrations that have seen the angry demonstrators setting ablaze the District Commissioner’s office and looting a lot of public property.
“I would not blame the president for all this political turmoil that is unfolding in the country. People elected Members of Parliament who are supposed to be on the ground controlling situations when they turn ugly.
“Surprisingly, they are nowhere to be seen. This is why people are complaining 100 percent, people are angry because there is too much corruption, segregation, social injustice and with that, peace cannot prevail,” the Bishop said.
The Bishop further added that if there is rampant impunity, if there is rampant corruption, segregation and marginalization in the country, there can be no peace and that country is built on the sand and it can collapse.
Speaking on behalf of the Paramount Chief Kyungu, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kalonga hailed the Bishop for the meeting that brought together critical players in the district who can bring peace and build the district.
Taking his turn, one of the youths from Lupembe, Davie Kittalo said there is need for the county’s leadership to create job opportunities for the youths as many young people are jobless.
“If the youths were given jobs, they would be busy and they would not have time to engage into actions that are retrogressive in nature,” Kittalo said.
Reverend Simeon Banda of Livingstonia Synod of Karonga CCAP heaped the blame on the county’s leadership, saying since the political tension started escalating, the country’s President has been quite.
“During Pharaoh’s reign, people lost livestock, lives and property because of his stubbornness. It is therefore, imperative for the President (Arthur Peter Mutharika) to come out in the open and condemn the barbaric acts perpetrated by some party zealots and start preaching peace,” Reverend Banda said.
The meeting drew together chiefs, political party representatives, Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), civil society organizations (CSOs), youths, the clergy and the police.
A+ Project Improving Lives of Marginalised Communities in Rumphi North
By Deodatus Muriya*
Vicar General of the Diocese of Karonga, Monsignor Denis Chitete, is impressed with the progress being made by A-Plus Project which the Development Desk (CADECOM) of the Diocese is implementing in Rumphi North.
The Vicar General made this expression during field monitoring visits to some of the project implementation sites under Phoka VDC. During the tour, the Vicar General Visited Dowowo Phoka Irrigation Scheme, appreciated progress on sanitation activities, village savings and loans and also village natural resource regeneration site.
Speaking during the visit, Principal GVH Nanania expressed a work of gratitude to the Diocese of Karonga for the support being rendered to ensure that people in his area are food secure.
In his remarks, Project Coordinator, Mr Martin Manda, says the communities the project is working with are greatly disadvantaged by poverty which is aggravated by limited access to basic services like water supply, health, education, electricity, hygiene and sanitation to name a few.
He further says that due to gender bias, the disadvantages of poverty including poor health, lack of economic opportunity, diminished social status and violence fall disproportionately on women and children, who are the most marginalized.
The Development Desk is implementing this project with financial support from Caritas Australia, through the National Office (Episcopal Conference of Malawi). Though communities have numerous disadvantages, A+ Project builds on the advantages that the people already have. It begins from the strengths the communities already have. This is called strength based approach. The aim of the project is to support marginal communities and enhance their quality of life by adopting indigenous approaches to improved food security, and access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.
*Deodatus Muriya is Desk Officer for Monitoring and Evaluation
‘Parishes Need to Be Closer to the People,’ Bishop Mtumbuka
By Benedict Kauteka*
Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka of the Diocese of Karonga says it is his wish that Parishes should be closer to people; where priests can easily reach out to and serve them better.
Bishop Mtumbuka has said this on Wednesday 16, October at Nyungwe where he held consultative meeting with the church leaders, from Ngala and Wovwe zones under St. Anne’s Parish, on the proper site for constructing a new parish.
Bishop further says it is good for priests to know the families they are serving right from their homes to appreciate their living conditions.
He further encourages church leaders to keep on taking care of priests by among other things providing them with food, proper to a self-reliant and self-propagating church.
In order to make this happen a committee of seven comprising of leaders from both zones has been established to work on the issue of land where the parish will be located. The Bishop suggests that the place should not be far from Nyungwe because it is centrally located.
This will be the second parish to come out of St Anne’s after the establishment of St Francis De Sales (Livingstonia) Parish.
Ngara and Wovwe zones have a combined population of about 10,042 christans and a total of 32 prayer centers. At the moment, St Anne’s parish has a total of 51 prayer centers and stretches from Ndembwera to Sangilo and from Zgewa to Chisumbu in Karonga District.
*Benedict Kauteka is Methodology Advisor for St Anne’s Parish
Bishop Mtumbuka Officially Opens Preparatory Activities for St Mary’s Parish Diamond Jubilee
By Phillip Chisi
Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka of the Diocese of Karonga has officially opened the preparations for St Mary’s Parish 75 Years jubilee. The Bishop made the announcement on 18th August, 2019 when he administered the Sacrament of Confirmation at St Mary’s Parish where over 275 parishioners were confirmed.
In his homily, the Bishop decreed that from 18th August, 2019, parishioners were permitted to start preparing for the Diamond Jubilee.
“St Mary’s Parish is the ‘mother’ parish of the Diocese. It started as one parish but now we are a diocese. So we really need to prepare well for the jubilee,” said the Bishop.
He further thanked all those who have supported the parish from its establishment to the present time.
“You must remain faithful to, and defend, your Church for the diocese has been built on their unwavering faith,” said the Bishop.
“This parish has gone through various experiences. We need to honour all the priests and identify as well as invite to the jubilee ceremony those Catholic Christians that has been associated with St Mary’s Parish for over 60 years and above. These people need to be credited in a special way,” said the Bishop.
Turning to the newly confirmed Christians, the Bishop urged them to remain united in faith. He reminded them that the Church is One and that no one will be privileged to go to paradise based on their affiliation to certain tribe or language. He encouraged them to remain faithful.
St Mary’s Parish was established in 1945 and will be clocking 75 years in July 2020.
New St Ignatius (Nthalire) Parish Centre Church Consecrated: Pictorial Focus
On 24th August, 2019, Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka of the Diocese of Karonga consecrated the newly constructed church building at St Ignatius Parish Centre. Here is the consecration ceremony in Pictures.
