Unprivileged Families

Majority of people living in Malawi survive from less than 1 $ a day. The development is hampered, among many other economic issues, by continuous expansion of family members; there are more than 1,000,000 orphans in Malawi, most of those due to HIV/AIDS. As most of the family finances are spent for a basic need – food, there is little left to solve arising health problems. Most of the diseases are left untreated until the illness takes its worst stage.

The top killing though preventable diseases are HIV/AIDS, respiratory infections, Malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, tuberculosis, and other illnesses caused by high blood pressure, Zinc, Vitamin A and Iron deficiency.

The Health System is underfinanced with very few medical institutions and medical personnel and short of necessary resources and drugs. The primary health care services in rural areas are generally delivered by supplementary health workers such as HSAs and by informal health sector such as home based care providers; all of those inadequately trained or without any trainings at all, lacking necessary reference and educational material.

It would be more then beneficial for every family to possess self-help, user and culture - friendly educational material guiding them on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of common diseases with necessary referrals to a trained health worker or clinic. In addition, Umoyo Trust Publications guide and empower community-themselves to take actions to improve the health situation of the community as whole by encouraging open discussions and dialogs on health related issues and their social, cultural and economic underling causes. 

<< Back