‘PMTCT programme working effectively ‘

The Prevention of Mother-to -Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV programme is said to have enabled the country to prevent 30 to 40 percent of new born babies from contracting the virus.

Malawi MCC energy compact delays push costs up 10%

Disruptions over the $350.7 million (about K140 billion) US Millennium Challenge Compact during the late president Bingu wa Mutharika regime have led to10 percent increase in costs of the project which is aimed at revitalising Malawi’s energy sector, officials have said.

Internal defects slow down Gender Ministry operations

Internal defects such as poor enforcement of mandate have slowed down Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare operations which are critical to ensuring gender parity and that women, men, girls and boys participate in the national development process equally, Weekend Nation has learnt.

Failing local drug manufactures risk loss of business

Pharmaceutical Association of Malawi (Phamam) has said local manufacturers of drugs and other pharmaceutical products risk losing business from the Buy Malawi deal which they have struck with Ministry of Trade and Industry and Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) if they fail to perform in the agreement.

RFA empowers community road maintenance clubs

Malawi’s Roads Fund Administration (RFA) has empowered 297 community road maintenance clubs with in the country with tools worth K82 million (about $205 000).

Liberalisation hurting the poor hard—EAM

The Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) has said liberalisation of the country’s economy coupled with the ongoing economic reforms continue to hurt the poor hard.

The association says those who have access to capital, especially foreign nationals, are the only ones getting richer at the expense of the majority Malawians.

Malawi needs K54bn to scale up family planning

Malawi needs $140 million (about K54 billion) to scale up provision of family planning services which are crucial to improve the low 42 percent contraceptive uptake level and reduce the high fertility rate.

US Peace Corps faulted on car sales

An audit into operations of US Peace Corps programme in Malawi has faulted the sale of three 2007 model Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles at the total price of K10.5 million (about $26 250), saying the vehicles were sold at cheap prices without an open and fair tender.

According to a letter on the audit dated February 27 2013 from US Peace Corps Inspector General Kathy Buller, the vehicles were sold without adequate oversight which she says led to their disposal at less than the maximum possible prices.

Suppliers yet to deliver 75% drugs in another tender

With three weeks to the end of May for eight suppliers to complete delivering drugs in another tender worth $2.969 million (about K1.16 billion), Malawi’s Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) has only received about 25 percent of the drugs, officials said this week.

Food shortage in Malawi to continue

Acute shortage of food across the country is projected to continue through June despite harvests which farming families have started making from their gardens.

According to the latest Usaid-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network (Fewsnet) report for March 2013, cash crop harvests from May are expected to help ease the hunger situation in some of the affected parts of the country.