Macoha targets K35m in 2023 flag week
Malawi Council for the Handicapped (Macoha) executive director George Chiusiwa has said they are targeting to raise K35 million from this year’s flag week.
Speaking during a press briefing at Macoha head office in Limbe on Tuesday ahead of the flag week’s official launch by President Lazarus Chakwera in Lilongwe tomorrow, he said the money will go towards recovery programmes for persons with disabilities that were affected by Cyclone Freddy in March this year.
Chiusiwa said 234 729 persons with disabilities were affected in various degrees and 47 424 were displaced in the aftermath of the cyclone.
“Marginalised sections of our society, such as persons with disabilities, were disproportionately affected by the disaster and there is need for a unique and specific approach to help them recover,” he said.
Macoha director of rehabilitation Dryford Mpunga said the Macoha Flag week, apart from raising awareness of disability issues in the country, also supports targeted projects aimed at uplifting the livelihoods of persons with disabilities. “In 2021, 60 persons with disabilities were trained using proceeds raised from that year’s flag week. In 2022 we provided start-up kits for persons with disabilities to help them in their various strides,” he said.
