Malawi first couple crowned honorary member of Lions Club
Malawi’s first couple was on Wednesday night crowned as honorary lions of the Blantyre Lions Club.
Speaking after the crowning ceremony hosted by the Lions Club International (LCI) at the Sunbird Mount Soche hotel in Blantyre, President Joyce Banda acknowledged the pivotal role the Lions club is playing in promoting the welfare of the people.
She cited an example of the construction of Namikasa Girls dormitory in Lilongwe and a cancer project which would assist cancer oesophagus patients.
“Let me commend you for the construction of Namikasa secondary school girl’s dormitory which will enable a lot of girl children continue with their education in a conducive learning environment.
“In the absence of these dormitories, girls are forced to rent small houses where they are subjected to all social evils for instance contracting HIV and AIDS or being raped which ends them in early pregnancies leading to school dropouts,” highlighted the President.
She also noted that many parents are allowing their children to engage in small sexual businesses at the expense of education, because they are not aware of the importance of school which also contributes to low education achievement among girls.
The Malawi leader observed that the country would not prosper if the girls who are to become future mothers are not safe due to the circumstances which surround them on daily basis.
She said high level of education fosters the country’ developmental growth; added that the provision of good learning environment was important for socio-comic development of the country.
President Banda also commended the construction of cancer centre saying the initiative would also assist a lot in helping cancer patients in the country.
She disclosed that Malawi would soon have a national cancer centre at one of the referral hospitals in Blantyre, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.
The President then assured the club that her government would fully support its development endeavors.
In his remarks, Blantyre Lions Club president, Dr Leo Vigna said the club would continue supporting the needy and carry out many projects in various places.
“We pledged to work with the government and Lions Club hospital at Queens is part of our achievement in addition to what we are doing in various areas like construction of Namikasi secondary school and cancer clinic centers among others,” he said.
Leo Vigna then congratulated the State President for being inducted as Lion and said the involvement of the Malawi leader would add great experience in moving the club to another step.
“Your Excellency, by you joining this club it will attract other people to follow suit,” he said.
Lions club international established in 1917 in Chicago in United States of America (USA) has membership of over 1.3 million in 200 countries.
