Liverpool Wellcome Trust in 25m relief aid

 Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust has donated assorted items worth K25 million to 309 households affected by Tropical Storm Ana in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mlilima in Chikwawa District.

The items include maize flour, Likuni Phala, plastic buckets, cups, basins, water guard and clothes.

Speaking after the donation on Tuesday, Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust associate director Janelisa Musaya said the donation was part of their corporate social responsibility.

She said: “We are donating the items because Chikwawa is our main site where we conduct our research in health.

“So, when we heard about what happened, we realised that the friends we have been working with for over 25 years need help.”

Musaya said their work has been affected, as such, they had to stop some of the work.

“We cannot come and do work when we know that people are displaced. When the situation improves, we will resume our work,” she said.

Chikwawa district health promotion officer Settle Piriminta said the donation came at the right time when people needed food.

He said the district is experiencing challenges in delivering health services to people due to an increase in injuries and communicable diseases.

Said Piriminta: “The disaster has forced us at Chikwawa District Health Office [DHO] to change our routine services.

“We have come up with groups of health workers who are travelling long distances to help people displaced and are living in camps.”

He said to achieve this, they need money for allowances and transportation.

Priminta said the congestion in camps is fuelling the spread of communicable diseases.

Tiwasamale Camp chairperson Andasoni Justin thanked Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust for the donation.

According to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs, the storm killed at least 46 people and injured 158