Updates from Malawi on: Nanthomba School and Nandumbo Health Center
HELP continues working hard to complementing Government efforts in providing the people of Nandumbo Area with socio-economic amenities, Education and Health being the key focus areas.
Nandumbo Health Centre
The construction of the clinic has now become popular through which community leaders are now proud of during different forums. I and Matt once picked TA Kalembo and her subordinate alongside Group Village Headman (GVH) Nandumbo to appreciate some of the projects HELP Malawi is implementing in her area. She was amazed with the tremendous work both at Nandumbo and Nanthomba. The TA Kalembo and the GVH Nandumbo gave extra land around Nandumbo clinic for its development. They all appreciated the long life impacting developments HELP Malawi is implementing to serve generations.
Road construction
The construction of the road that I had been mentioning about in the previous reports has started on 9th June 2009. Over 100 people come to work on the road almost every day. This 2km- road is connecting Nandumbo and Mkamwana as shown below:
HELP Malawi is becoming popular forcommunity mobilization because Nandumbo area had been known to be area ofpoachers, resisters to development participation and good handouts receivers.Having organized the people for such a self-help project is a great achievement. As seen above Nandumbo is locked up with 3 rivers (Shire, Mkasi A and Mkasi B). There is no way a road can be constructed without crossing waters. However, Mkasi from Ulongwe has changed its course for about 5 year snow from A to B. This change has left River A to be crossable during rainy season because it is just a gully now without heavy flowing water even if it drains. That is why the community chose to construct this road to the Main Roadin Ulongwe for all seasons.
Currently, the people are working on the drainages – trying to raise the road but the problem is the crossing of the old river.
Community working on Nandumbo -Mkamwana Road
ESCOM
I have submitted an application to ESCOM for electricity to Nandumbo Health Centre. I will keep you posted on this…
Market
For your own information the district assembly came last week to discuss with the leaders about establishment of a market at Nandumbo. A market organizing committee was established afterwards –a development people link to HELP Malawi initiatives.
The road, electricity and the healthcentre will greatly impact the livelihoods of the people for the rest of their lives.
The all-season road will be very useful for ambulances to and from the health centre, trucks to and from the market, guests to and from the National Park and Mvuu Camp. More businesses will emerge because of the electricity such as maize mills, barber shops, electrified houses for rent, etc. Currently women travel about 8km to a nearest maize mill –consuming their productive time.
Nanthomba School
For the first time Nanthomba has received 12830 exercise books, 800 pens, 1020 pencils, 60 boxes of chalk and 3 flip chart rolls.
