In Malawi, the European Union-funded Kulima Better Extension Training Transforming Economic Returns Project (BETTER), of which Self Help Africa is a lead agency, has invested in materials worth over 200 million MWK (€239K) to support nearly 150,000 households in 10 districts in the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The aim of this investment is to increase awareness of COVID-19 and prevent further spread, primarily through the promotion of hand washing with soap at the household level, through the projects existing Farmer Field Schools, in the following districts: Karonga, Chitipa, Mzimba North and South, Kasungu, Salima, Nkhotakota, Thyolo, Mulanje and Chiradzulu.
Self Help Africa’s Chief of Party Peter Soko said: “The COVID-19 response under the BETTER project will complement the efforts of the various players in the districts, including the government. The promotion of hand washing through the Farmer Field Schools will influence other members of the community to engage in hygiene practices as a measure to prevent COVID-19 spread.
We’re also distributing public health information in the form of posters and messages on community radio, to reach as many people as possible with information on COVID-19.”
Self Help Africa is a lead agency in the European Union-funded Kulima BETTER programme, in collaboration with Actionaid Malawi, Plan Malawi, and the Evangelical Association of Malawi.
As of 8th June 2020, Malawi has 438 confirmed cases of COVID-19 – of this number, 55 have recovered and four have died. The first case in Malawi was registered on 6 May 2020, with the Government of Malawi declaring COV19-19 a national disaster on 20th March.
