COVID-19 Response
In light of the coronavirus, the DreamWeaver Foundation will be prioritising responses aimed at preparing the country for the pandemic.
On 01 April 2020, 79 days after the first reported case outside of China in Thailand, Malawi did not have a single case of COVID-19. The situation has since changed; as of 10 April 2020, the country has 8 reported cases of COVID-19.
While the general outlook seems bleak, as a country we still have time and it is imperative that we use this time productively. A lot of countries in the world did not have any time to prepare, and a lot of lives have since been lost.
The Foundation will from April 2020 concentrate its efforts on preparing communities, particularly the most vulnerable – prisoners, the elderly and those living in high-density communities – to protect themselves and prevent the spread of the coronavirus, using the guidelines put in place by our Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation.
Latest Causes
ADOLESCENT SRHR COMMUNITY PROGRAM
The Adolescent SRHR Community Program supports adolescent girls and young women who live in five high-density areas in Lilongwe; Mtandire, Mtshiriza, Saint, Dubai and Mgona. Working in partnership with Community Based Organisations in these townships, the program provides girls with information and resources for the prevention of unplanned pregnancies and HIV infection, which includes Comprehensive Sexuality Education, modern contraceptives and HIV testin and counseling services.
COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR HIGH-DENSITY COMMUNITIES
We are supporting five high-density communities in Lilongwe through a) Information and education which improves knowledge on COVID-19 and encorages social-distancing b) Installation of community washpoints where the community can have access to clean water and soap for improved personal hygiene c) Food packages for impoverished families who depend on daily wages and now have limited mobility due to COVID-19
COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE FOR MALAWI PRISONS
To prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Malawi prisons, the foundation is using the following strategies a) Information & education - inmates do not have to COVID-19 information as is available to people in outside communities. We are providing correct information which improves knowledge and addresses common myths and misconceptions about COVID-19 b) Training - we are providing inmates, prison officers and their family members with training on proper handwashing with soap to improve personal hygiene. c) While recommendations have been put in place for the prevention of COVID-19, resources for actively implementing those recommendations that have not been made available to prison. We are providing inmates with water buckets, soap and hand sanitizer for handwashing and disinfecting common surfaces. This improves personal hygine and sanitation among inmates who ordinarily lives in overcrowded conditions.