Malawi govt hails World Vision’s support
Malawi government has World Vision as a week-long World Vision Southern Africa Region Gift In Kind (GIK) Learning Lab Conference aimed at sharing ideas and experiences is under way in the capital Lilongwe slated for July 8 to 11th.
GIK is a project initiated by World Vision International to mobilise resources like pharmaceuticals, clothes, learning and teaching materials, nutritional foods among others from the corporate world to improve the welfare of the underprivileged people especially children in the region.
Speaking during the official opening of the conference in the capital Lilongwe, Malawi Minister of Health, Dr Jean Kalirani, said World Vision has been steadfast in resource mobilisation to support areas which governments may not be able to do due to some challenges.
“As governments in this region, we appreciate the good gesture rendered by the World Vision because they have taken away the burden which we had in certain areas due to our financial challenges,” she said.
She therefore urged the organisation to find means and mechanisms to generate more support and in the process contribute positively to the well-being of the underprivileged communities in the region.
Regional Resource Development Unit Director, Linda Kabwila, bemoaned lack of innovative thinking about GIK across the region which has led to less utilisation of the GIK.
“We believe that this forum will help us all to improve the understanding of the use of different types of GIK,” she said.
She therefore commended Malawi for doing better in the implementation and use of the GIK compared to other countries in the region.
GIK is implemented in nine countries of Southern Africa like Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Angola, Tanzania and Mozambique