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Malawi

Malawi

Revival of WRASM Malawi

“PENDAPENDA SIKUGWA KOMA KUCHALIRA ULENDO.” This is a Malawian proverb that means: “When you fall down while you are on a journey, it does not mean that is the end of your journey.” As human beings, we learn from the mistakes that we make in our day to day lives. This is true even with civil society organizations. This is why lesson learning is an important component of project management.

The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood (WRASM) was Instituted in Malawi in 2002 and registered as a legal entity in November 2003. The Aliiance was formed In order to propagate the objectives of the Global White Ribbon Alliance at national level taking into consideration the high maternal mortality and morbidity existing in Malawi. WRASM·Malawl's vision Is to have a Malawi where no woman and newborn dies needlessly before, during and after the childbirth process. In this regard, WRASM·Malawl Is on a mission to advocate for the placement of safe motherhood high on the political and socio-economic agenda. WRASM-Malawi also advocates for the highest . standards of safe motherhood services for Malawian women and their newborns through a multisectoral al1iance involving individuals, nongovernmental organizations, relevant government ministries, donor communities and other development partners.

It is the belief of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood that saving the lives of women and their newborns is the responsibility of every citizen of a country rega'rdless of whether they are working within the health sector or outside of it. Everyone must play their part.

As one way of strengthening WRASM-Malawi, the organization is embarking on a validation exercise of its membership in order to deve lop and maintain a reliable database of its members. In this regard all WRASM~Malawi individual and organizational members are requested to re·register.

Registration forms can be obtained from either the Secretary to the WRASM·Maiawi Board, Mr. Dingaan Mithi through email dlngaanmlthl@yahoo.com or Mrs Lennie Kamwendo through email lennieakamwendo@yahoo.co.uk Registration fees are MK500 for an' indivldual member and MK2,000 for organizational members. Those who wish to join WRASM·Malawi and play their part in saving lives areverywekome to contact Mr. Mithi or Mrs Kamwenoo at the given email addresses.

For more information, please cail 0999694832 or 0993306305 or 0888838525.

 

In 2009, the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood Malawi (WRASM Malawi) Board of Trustees disbanded the executive committee and secretariat due to irregularities in managing funds. Since then, the Board of Trustees has been overseeing coordination of WRASM Malawi activities at the national level until recently when they held an Annual General Meeting (AGM) with support from the Global Secretariat.

At the WRASM Malawi AGM, which was held from 24 to 25 August, the members agreed that for effective governance and transparency in the new WRASM Malawi, there was a need for a new and competent secretariat and an increase in the number of trustees. At the end of the meeting, the WRASM Malawi Board appointed six additional Board members. The AGM also agreed that the structure of having an executive committee be disbanded and their functions in the interim be carried out by the Board of Trustees while sourcing funds to re-establish the secretariat. In addition, the AGM agreed to establish focal point persons in the three regions of Malawi to coordinate district-level activities in their respective regions and share information with the Board of Trustees. The Board appointed three dedicated members to undertake this role.

The AGM also provided a forum to share district activities.

The Mangochi group reported that since 2008, the following activities were accomplished:

  • Worked in collaboration with chiefs to enforce by¬laws set by the community, e.g. charging MK600 to any couple in which the woman delivers at home or using a traditional birth attendant (TBA).
  • Implemented neighborhood support where villagers provide advice to women on safe motherhood and child care.

The Chitipa group reported that since 2008, they accomplished the following activities:

  • Formed and oriented subcommittees, and activity reports were received from all the subcommittees.
  • Sensitized five community areas in safe motherhood, gender and HIV/AIDS, and 75% of people reached were women.
  • Conducted a regional meeting in Mzuzu in December 2009, where annual plans were drawn up.

The Board continues its resource mobilization efforts to support the re-establishment of a secretariat as it advances safe motherhood for Malawian women and continues with the good work that the members of WRASM Malawi are already doing on the ground.

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