Organisation donates 300 bicycles to Lilongwe DHO

World Relief Malawi, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USaid), on Tuesday donated 300 bicycles worth K45 million to Lilongwe District Health Office (DHO).

The donation, through its Strengthening Community Health Outcomes Through Positive Engagement (Scope) project, was made to curb mobility challenges faced by health surveillance assistants (HSAs) in target areas.

The bicycles will be distributed to HSAs from 13 health centres in traditional authorities Malili, Mazengera, Chimutu, Khongoni and Masumbankhunda in Lilongwe.

According to Scope project manager Martha Saidi, HAS’s are at the centre of the organisation’s mission of reducing maternal and child mortality.

She said: “The bicycles will help our HSAs to reach out to everyone who needs their help. Since they operate in hard-to-reach areas where transportation is expensive and hard to find, the coming in of these bicycles will help them to move from one place to another without facing hiccups.

Saidi, however, asked Lilongwe DHO and HSAs to ensure proper management of the bicycles to maximise outreach while extending gratitude to USaid.

Lilongwe DHO environmental health officer Emmanuel Mbawa applauded World Relief for the timely donation saying it will serve its intended purpose.