FOCUS
Promoting Health and Fighting Disease
Creating Economic Opportunities
MDGs ADDRESSED
MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
MDG 8: Develop a global partnership for development
OVERVIEW
Most Malawians rely on subsistence farming to survive. The food supply is precarious and the country is prone to natural disasters of both extremes—from drought to heavy rainfalls. These two extremes mean that Malawi typically requires thousands of tons of food aid every year to keep its people from starving. An estimated 21% of the population is infected with HIV/AIDS, but in some areas it is known to be as high as 50%. A half million children have been orphaned as a result.
Malaria is the most frequent cause of illness and death among Malawian children under five
years of age, and causes 40% of deaths in children under two. Children under five
suffer on average ten malaria episodes per year, while adults typically suffer six episodes. The human and economic costs are enormous. A typical Malawian household will spend an estimated US$35 annually to treat malaria—which is seven percent of their income.
Our PARTNER
Episcopal Relief and Development is partnering with the Anglican Dioceses of Northern Malawi and Southern Malawi. The Diocese of Southern Malawi is the newest diocese of the Anglican Church in Malawi. It currently has 18 parishes, and 30 congregations and still growing. The diocese is divided into four Archdeaconries, Blantyre, Blantyre North, Highlands and Limbe. The Diocese of Northern Malawi serves communities living along Lake Malawi.
Our CURRENT PROGRAMS
Episcopal Relief and Development is implementing integrated development programs to improve the food supply, create economic opportunities for families, and fight preventable diseases including malaria and HIV/AIDS. In the Diocese of Northern Malawi, Episcopal Relief and Development is focusing on improving agricultural production to increase income and reduce hunger and malnutrition. Episcopal Relief and Development is working with both dioceses to provide Malaria and HIV/AIDS prevention programs.
Promoting Health and Fighting Disease
Episcopal Relief and Development is protecting the most vulnerable—pregnant women and young children—from contracting malaria, an easily preventable disease. Because of the high prevalence rates, HIV/AIDS prevention is another key focus in Malawi.
- Long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, along with training in the proper use of nets, ensure that the most vulnerable are protected from the Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit malaria.
- Trained malaria “agents” and volunteers instruct community members in malaria prevention and treatment methods.
- HIV/AIDS awareness workshops train clergy and community leaders to teach prevention methods, provide counseling to those affected by AIDS including orphaned children, and encourage people to seek voluntary testing and treatment.
Alleviating Hunger
Episcopal Relief and Development is ending hunger in six communities in Northern Malawi by providing training and resources that help families increase their food production.
- Improved seeds, equipment, and farming practices such as composting, crop rotation, contour plowing, terracing and bonding increase crop production and harvests.
- Training for women helps increase the quality of the soya and groundnut crops.
- A tree planting program reduces soil erosion and improves the quality of the soil.
Our PAST ACHIEVEMENTS
The NetsforLifeSM malaria prevention partnership distributed 10,000 long-lasting insecticide-treated nets in Malawi in 2007. A total of 12,600 people were sensitized about malaria prevention, and 390 individuals were trained as malaria agents. This brings the total number of people protected to 22,600.
