Mlambe Health and Social Trust (MhEST) has donated relief items to 210 flood victims of T/A Mwambo in Zomba district to assist them this winter season.
Thousands were heavily affected after torrential rains and subsequent flooding hit Southern and Eastern parts of Malawi, including Zomba, Phalombe, Chikwawa and Nsanje districts in early March this year.
Among the relief items were blankets, scarves, clothes, zitenje (wrappers) and school bags while beneficiaries were categorised according to their age-group including infants, toddlers, children, youth and the elderly.
Standing: MhEST Executive Director Dr. Zahra Ismail (left centre) and Technical Director Grace Makonyola (right centre)
MhEST Technical Director Grace Makonyola said: “We’ve been taking part in the District Commissioner’s efforts to help those affected by heavy rains and floods which hit Zomba in March. So when we received a donation from well-wishers in Italy, we thought it appropriate to distribute those items in the affected areas.
“Therefore, we reached out to the DC who pointed us here at Sunuzi, where there are a lot of people affected by the floods. The items being distributed include blankets, children’s clothes, as well as school bags.”
Zomba District Commissioner Emmanuel Bambe (centre) hands over relief items to a beneficiary
Zomba District Commissioner Emmanuel Bambe said: “We thank Mlambe Health and Social Trust for informing the DC’s office how concerned they were about the floods which hit the district. We worked hand in hand until the items they received from Italy finally arrived safely here in Zomba.
“I am happy that aside from what government contributed especially towards food, the people of Group Village Headman Taulo and Chimbalanga have now received clothes, blankets and some other items which will help them a lot.
“This donation will specifically benefit the Under-5s who end up catching pneumonia during this cold season due to lack of blankets. So to us this donation has come at a very opportune time and we ask that they continue looking out for us.”
One of the beneficiaries shows off her new chitenje
Village Headman Taulo said: “We’re extremely happy for this donation. This will benefit both young children and the elderly.
“We’ve been given blankets and jerseys and these will help us as you know we’re in the cold season. We thank MhEST together with their donors and ask them to do the same to others.”
One of the beneficiaries receives a blanket as others look on
This is the second time Mlambe Health and Social Trust has reached out and donated relief items to victims of the March floods in Zomba district.
Earlier this year, MhEST donated nutritional items and roofing materials to 38 beneficiary households within the catchment villages under its Vulnerable Elderly Programme.
Some of the flood victims at Chinangwa Community-based Child care Centre (CBCC)
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