Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month. In this month, we honour and celebrate women’s contributions to history and contemporary society. In today's blog, we talk with women from our FEM program, and they highlight the roles they play in their families and Kasese community. Read the blog article to learn more!
Mobilizing Masks for Malawi
Today, September 1st, marks the first day since April that the mobile outreach clinic will return to its routine schedule. Remote villages who have lacked access to medical treatment for the past four months will be tended to again. Orant’s clinicians are eager to see their patients again. Still, the return is one laced with unease.
Typically, mobile clinics draw large crowds. Many villagers need to see a doctor, but many also gather just to socialize. During the pandemic, however, gathering into large groups is unsafe. Since the virus is likely spread through particles in the air, crowds naturally increase people’s exposure risk. As Orant prepares the mobile clinic to operate again, it must mitigate these risks. While Orant does want to leave remote villagers without medical attention, it’s also wary of the dangers of encouraging public gathering.
The Masks for Malawi initiative is preparing clinicians and local volunteers for mobility as best as it can. The mobile staff will bring 200 masks each day to distribute to patients. Orant is hopeful that the mobile outreach clinic will serve an additional role now: one of spreading awareness, disseminating masks, and encouraging social distancing practices. Orant’s trusted health professionals will encourage mask-wearing in each rural village they visit. With this practice, Orant is likely to set a strong example and make a considerable impact on virus safety measures. But the mobile clinic will need more than 200 masks to protect its clinicians and supply all villages with masks.
Orant needs to increase mask production capacity. Last week, Orant scouted two more seamstresses to join the team. Thanks to the generosity of donors, the Masks for Malawi campaign has raised over $5,000 thus far. Orant has already hired 2 tailors, Chisoni and Bright, each with one assistant. They’ve sewn 3762 masks in total, at about 60 masks each a day each. With the additional two seamstresses at work, and with donations still streaming in, Orant anticipates finishing an average of 240 masks a day.
By mobilizing mask distribution, Orant will encourage much-needed prevention efforts in rural villages in Central Malawi. With time, villagers will learn the clinician’s social distancing requirements. And when social distancing measures are respected, masks are distributed, and people are kept safe, the mobile clinic team will feel more confident in returning to its normal routine.
Stories From The Field
School Surveys Lead to Better Learning Outcomes
Data is one of the most important tools in all our programs as it helps us measure whether our programs are making an impact or when it’s time for change. For the past three weeks, our Education program has been surveying schools in our catchment area. Check out today’s blog to learn more about how this survey is going to contribute to our Education program.
Improving Healthcare Access in Rural Malawi
We are thrilled to announce the opening of our new Mobile Outreach Clinic this week, which is a great stride that our Healthcare program has achieved! We have started our operations with treating Chatalala Community in Kasungu district, Traditional Authority Njombwa. Read our blog post to learn more about how the new mobile outreach clinic will serve communities better.
Malaria Season in Malawi
Summer in the Southern Hemisphere brings malaria season in Malawi, a dangerous disease that can kill those who do not receive treatment in time. Orant works to ensure that those afflicted with the disease receive the proper treatment and recover.
The Challenge of Noncommunicable Diseases in Rural Malawi
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) remain a huge burden to the healthcare sector in Malawi. Read our blog post to learn more about NCDs.
Conducting Mobile Outreach Clinics in Malawi
Your donations have purchased a new trailer for our Mobile Outreach Clinic! Read our latest blog as our Mobile Outreach Clinic (MOC) team shares how the new trailer will be of great help to the team’s daily operations.
Celebrating 5 Years of FEM for Women
Learn how to make this favorite Malawian dish, Mpiru Otendera. One of Malawi’s most popular recipes, Mpiru Otendera (mustard greens with peanut flour) is a nutritious and filling recipe that goes well with many meals.
Transforming the Lives of Women in Rural Malawi
In rural Malawi, pregnant women face many challenges including lack of access to prenatal care, poor nutrition, and lack of safe spaces to deliver their babies. Orant is working to change that with the renovation of our maternity ward. Read about it in this week’s blog.
A New Hope for Mothers in Malawi
In rural Malawi, pregnant women face many challenges including lack of access to prenatal care, poor nutrition, and lack of safe spaces to deliver their babies. Orant is working to change that with the renovation of our maternity ward. Read about it in this week’s blog.
Orant Improves Eye Health in Rural Malawi
On the last Wednesday of every month, our Kasese Health Centre conducts eye clinics for local residents in need of treatment. Read our latest blog to learn more about our eye clinics and how they help people in rural Malawi.