NPL journalist among population day awardees
Nation Publications Limited (NPL) features editor Edyth Kambalame is among the 2012 recipients of awards to people who have made significant contributions towards universal access to reproductive health.
Kambalame was among nine individuals and institutions that received the awards in Mchinji during the 2012 World Population Day commemoration on Wednesday.
“Kambalame is being awarded for her investigative piece on a practice in Dedza where men shared wives locally known as kudikamalo. The report laid bare the practice which led to some non-governmental organisations such as World Vision, Concern Universal as well as government officials in the district to put in place programmes that would discourage the practice which was rife then,†reads a justification by UNFPA on why the editor is among the awardees. In the electronic media category, MBC’s Suzgo Chitete was also recognised.
The heroines of the day were Margaret Wantheza, who is Sub Traditional Authority (T/A) Pitala under Chief Mavwere in Mchinji and a midwife at Mangochi District Hospital, Lonnie Mkwepele.
Since 2002, Guwende Village, under Sub T/A Pitala has not had maternal deaths, according to UNFPA.
Mkwepele, on the other hand, did a survey whose findings have led to the drastic reduction of both maternal and neonatal deaths in Mangochi.
The religious leaders’ award went to the Quadria Muslim Association and the Muslim Association of Malawi whereas the ministries of Health and Economic Planning and Development shared the policymakers award, among other recipients.
UNFPA representative Athanase Nzokirishaka said the awardees are ordinary men and women whose contributions often go unnoticed yet they have helped build the health of many families through family planning, reduced maternal deaths and contribute to youth friendly healthy services.
