Malawi angers US over failure to recruit dieticians
United States of America is seeking answers from the government on why five dieticians whose education was funded by the US to help combat malnutrition are not yet employed a year after they graduated.
Sources say officials at the US embassy in Lilongwe are not amused that good gesture to help combat malnutrition among children in the country which hovers around 12 per cent.
“There is a silent diplomatic row between the two countries,” said our source.
Statistics show that 37 per cent of the children in the country are stunted.
The dieticians were from Lilongwe University of Agriculture Natural Resourcesand College of Medicine with full funding from the US.
One of the dieticians said it is sad that they have just been home for a year because of bureaucracy in government.
“When we go to ask about our employment, they tell us that we should wait because they are creating our department in the ministry of Health, it is almost a year now,” said one of the dieticians.
He said last time he checked with the ministry, he was told the Ministry of Health wants to get clearance from Treasury first before they are employed.
Ministry of Health spokesperson Joshua Malango said the dieticians will be employed soon, saying the process of their recruitment is almost over.
DPP government can’t act on this issue because there is nothing for them to steal………………. from the process! On the other hand, does the current Minister knows who a dietician is!!
Let me echo my sentiments on issues raised by most people who ably presented their side to the dietician’s plight that they are as important as Public Health Officers are, in as far as prevention of most Non-communicable diseases. Malawi now having a middle income community has lately seen an emerging illnesses which in the past we labelled as for the rich countries. These diseases among others are Diabetes, Hypertension and Gout Arthropathy. Malnutrition and child stunting can be a key reason for any donor to train a Dieticician as most NGOs look at child health as crucial. But looking… Read more »
The answer is DPP
A possible solution: Get the Americans pay for the wages of these dieticians, may be just for a few years. That is, if the US is serious about the issue.
Easy to train, for a few years; but not so easy to sustain the wages for twenty – thirty years.
Typical Malawian bureaucracy! What they mean is they are desperately trying to find the money to employ these much needed medics. There is never a problem finding funds to purchase big cars for MPs and ministers or to send the President and his entourage to the USA for several weeks. When it comes to providing much needed help to the ordinary citizens of the country, the funds are not there to be had. SHAMEFUL!!
This is the problem with donors. They decide on the type of scholarships to give, advertise and students apply. When the students graduate,, the donors expect the Malawi Govt to employ them. Did the Govt ask for these dieticians in the first place? Our problem is not the diet but food availability and level of education. Are children of rich or educated parents stunted at all?
If it were specialised doctors, I am sure the govt would have employed them quickly.
No wonder they said 1 million job creation benchmark is impossible they cant even employ anyone and the interns are still unpaid! What a govt with a vision for its people!! Lets kick out this mediocrity clueless govt
This article is not written by Khamula but the same three dieticians. Africans are really dumb. Do you really think that developed countries really give a fuck about Africa and let alone Malawi – a country without oil or any precious stones? Kulibe choti angabe kuno kikiki. So why should they care whether three stupid black guys are employed or not? If they really cared they could have employed them by themselves. So the US just sponsored these three people without having any future plan for them? An embassy cannot push any government or company to employ someone. That’s not… Read more »