MANET Plus conducts capacity building for community volunteers

Malawi Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (MANET) plus has trained and donated items to Ntchisi community volunteers.

A representative from Manet Plus posing with community volunteers during the donation

Malawi: Malawi Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (MANET) Plus has trained and donated items to Ntchisi community volunteers.

Faless Moyo, the organization's programmes manager, stated after the donation on Monday that they wanted volunteers to be knowledgeable about Covid-19, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and Malaria.

"The goal of this training is to provide volunteers with comprehensive information in an integrated manner so that they can disseminate it in their communities," she explained.

Moyo stated that Manet Plus aims to increase Covid-19 vaccine uptake because it is associated with myths and beliefs that have contributed to low vaccine uptake.

To help the volunteers with transportation, the organisation donated personal protective equipment such as face masks, sanitisers, hand wash, basins, tables, chairs, and push bikes to some district supporting groups.

She urged more partners, however, to provide more push bikes to volunteers, as the gap remains enormous.

Dr Lumbani Munthali, Director of Health and Social Services at Ntchisi, said the training was important for community volunteers and the district at large because they expect people in the district to live a healthy life with the wide range of knowledge imparted.

"For example, community volunteers have been sensitised on the importance of the Covid-19 vaccine as well as emphasising the need for adherence on ARV treatment for people living with HIV as well as access to health facilities on tuberculosis issues," he said.

He went on to say that the training also included nutrition capacity building, emphasising the importance of good nutrition for people living with HIV, eating foods from the selected six groups, and living a healthy lifestyle.

Angela Katema, a volunteer for a Community Based Organization in the district, expressed her gratitude for the training and items donated, saying it will improve their service delivery in their communities.

With the help of the Global Fund and Action Aid, the organisation trained one hundred community volunteers in the district over the course of two days.

Volunteers included adolescent boys and girls, young men and women, people living with HIV, women, people with disabilities, orphans, leaders of community-based organisations, and others from vulnerable groups.