Malawi President Banda leaves for US for UN General Assembly
President Joyce Banda on Monday left Malawi for the United States of America where she will fulfill several official engagements besides attending this year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Speaking to reporters before departure at Kamuzu International Airport, the President said among other engagements, she will engage development partners, including the UN, to assist her fully implement the Mudzi Transformation Trust’s objectives.
“I have travelled with ordinary villagers and the Chairperson of the Mudzi Transformation Trust so that they can explain the challenges to do with shelter and the Trust’s concept is aiming to achieve,” said the President.
She said while in New York, she will engage cooperating partners on Maternal and Child Mortality to follow up on efforts made towards achieving the MDGs, noting UNICEF recently announced Malawi is likely to achieve MDG 4.
“Malawi has made significant progress in realizing some of the key child-related MDGs, achieving a sharp decline in infant and under-five mortality rates. Malawi is now likely to achieve the MDG 4 goal of reducing infant and child mortality by two thirds,” said the President, adding Malawians needed to pat themselves on the back for the feat.
She also noted maternal deaths have also dramatically declined, owing to her personal drive to reduce these deaths through the Presidential Initiative of Safe Motherhood and Maternal Health.
“I will also be meeting the Secretary General of the United Nations; SADC has mandated me and the President of Namibia Hifikepunye Pohamba to engage the UN Chief on the volatile political and security situations in the DRC and Madagascar,” said the President, who also chairs the regional Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).
The Malawi Head of State is expected to address the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, September 24, 2013.
