Natural Disasters
There is shortage of nurses and midwives in disaster hit areas. NONM continues to call upon government to recruit additional nurses and midwives. The few that are currently there are overloaded.
COVID-19
Health is usually fragile in disaster hit areas. There is always need to make sure that people in the areas have access to good healthcare to avoid loss of lives which managed to escape the disasters.
Malawi President declared a State of National Disaster on 26th January 2022. The declaration followed the flash floods that the country is experiencing due to heavy rains and strong winds with the southern region being the most affected. As of 11th February, 2022, 221,127 households (995,072 people) were affected across 19 districts; 46 people died, 206 people were injured while 18 people were still reported missing and 32,935 households (152,786 people) displaced. Following the displacement, people were left with no food, safe water and shelter.
Temporary camps were set for the survivors to access basic needs and other social services including health and education. UNICEF as a humanitarian aid organization has donated various health resources in the affected districts including long lasting treated mosquito nets, hand sanitizers, tents and other health and infection prevention and control consumable and non-consumable supplies. Even with these items there is still a challenge with the shortage of nurses and midwives in the affected districts. The few available are overloaded with work.
NONM has advocated to the government to recruit more nurses and midwives in the districts most affected by the floods (Phalombe, Chikwawa and Mulanje) to help reduce the work overload faced by current stuff. Even though it was unsuccessful NONM still continues to call upon government to make the recruitment so that quality healthcare is achieved in a delicate situation like that.