There is no hero—all Malawians are heroes
Early this year, Malawi experienced the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and Malawi was hit hard and in the process, several Malawians died. A number of civil society initiatives came up to complement government’s efforts in addressing the health crisis. Among such groups was the Covid-19 Response Private Citizens (CRPC), an initiative led by Stanley Onjezani Kenani. In this interview with staff writer MOSES MICHAEL-PHIRI, the CRPC’s spokesperson KUMBUKANI KUNTIYA shares their experiences so far.
Q
First, what led to the formation of CRPC?
A
The second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic had hit Malawi in a hard way. Hospitals were suffocating and systems were overwhelmed. There was a shortage of cylinders and concentrators as essential equipment for the supply of oxygen to Covid-19 patients. The government was doing the best it could do, but all systems were overstretched. This then called for all hands on deck immediately to provide any solution we could. We, therefore, came together to crowdfund and cover any gaps that could not be covered by government’s efforts.
Q
What was CRPC’s core objective?
A
Our major objective was to save Malawians from the deadly virus by raising funds from the general public to purchase the supplies necessary to combat Covid-19. We embarked on this mission while being fully transparent and accountable to the public for all the money collected as well as any updates.
Q
To what extent did you achieve your objectives?
A
We are grateful to all Malawians and all others outside Malawi by being part of this initiative. Through their support, we raised K209.8 million which went in procuring the much needed oxygen that was distributed across 50 hospitals in Malawi. We also distributed PPEs, patient monitors, high-flow oxygen concentrators, pulse oximeters, oxygen pressure regulators (flowmeters), enoxaparin and other essential drugs, zeolite for repairing oxygen concentrators and many more.
Q
How did you collaborate with government?
A
We had an excellent relationship with the Malawi Government, especially through the Minister of Health, Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda and her team who provided guidance all the way. During our first round of equipment delivery, the Ministry in collaboration with the Department of Disaster Management Affairs [Dodma], provided trucks that we used to ferry the purchased items to our hospitals.
Q
What inspirations did you draw from the initiative?
A
The initiative brought together primary school children, alumni from secondary schools and universities, grieving families, struggling single parents, small businesses, banks, the religious fraternity, the media, political figures, Malawians at home and abroad and many other sectors of our society. These individuals inspired us each day through their mission: To save Malawians from the deadly virus. It also showed us that if we unite around a common goal, we can achieve a lot together. More importantly, it made everyone realise that there are things we can do on our own, without always waiting for the government first to do things for us.
Q
Did you encounter any challenges on the way?
A
Yes, we did. We had to order some things from distant countries, such as China and the United States of America, and they took six or more weeks to arrive. During an emergency, that is an eternity. We were also always bothered by one question: What if things go wrong? What if some of the suppliers failed to deliver after pocketing our money? What if things got stolen before they could be delivered? We spent hours discussing various scenarios and managing any risks we anticipated. Every member of the team was alert in this regard.
Q
What more did you do?
A
In the course of helping hospitals to respond effectively to Covid-19, it came to our attention that Rumphi and Dowa District Hospitals have problems with back-up power. We have since then repaired the Rumphi power generator and we are just about to procure a new one for Dowa hospital. We also spent K1.1 million on brand-new tyres for an ambulance for Neno District Hospital. Apart from that, plans are underway to attend to water problems at Chiradzulu District Hospital.
Q
What are the next steps?
A
We have finished distributing a second round of items that were procured recently and we should be embarking on reporting back to all Malawians and those that supported the initiative. A financial audit will commence as soon as we finish all our activities and the results will be shared with the public.
Q
Any lessons learnt?
A
Through this initiative, we showed our oneness as a country. Malawians from all walks of life came together to respond to a national cause and we believe if called to duty again, together, we can achieve more.
Q
What’s your last word?
A
As a team, we are grateful to all those who supported us and we can’t claim personal glory from this. We did it together, all of us. There is no hero – all Malawians are heroes. We were only servants of the people, and we did whatever we did for and on behalf of the people. We were only the bag carriers, they deposited the contents. We are proud of all those who decided to stand up and do something about the dire situation we faced as a nation, rather than waiting for the government to fight the battle alone.
