Malawi
Malawi
Agriculture in Malawi
Malawi is a country located in East Africa, with a population of 18.63 million, as reported by the World Bank in 2019. Eighty per cent of the total population is heavily dependent on agriculture for livelihood. Unfortunately, the harvest is still not enough to sustain the whole of the community that generates a greater portion of malnourished people.
Despite the innumerable economic and structural reforms, Malawi remains one of the poorest countries in the world, unable to sustain its economic growth due to external shocks. With one-third of rural households dependent on fishing or farming, drought in the region makes food production and income scarce due to a fall in crop production or crop failure. The problems in the agricultural sector have pushed 25 per cent of the population into extreme poverty, out of the 50.7 per cent already living below the poverty line.
Because climate change affects food security and economic growth, poverty, scarcity of land resources, and the growing population relying on limited natural reservoirs have compounded with extended dry periods, hot spells, and heavier rains to make planting and harvesting a challenge for farmers in Malawi.
Healthcare in Malawi
The healthcare system in Malawi is fragile, to say the least. Almost 12 per cent of Malawians are affected by HIV/AIDS. It subsequently results in people having to sell their personal belongings, cutting on daily food consumption, and withdrawing children from school to get a sick family member treated.
Malawi has reported 61,113 confirmed cases of COVID-19, resulting in 2,238 deaths. The pandemic has heavily impacted the country’s economic growth and livelihood, with each wave being more intense than the one that has passed, causing substantial impoverishment. Moreover, the disproportional effect on the human capital investment in poor households is further reducing future intergenerational income mobility as the population is expected to double by 2038.
Development in Malawi
Inequality and poverty remain stubbornly high in the region, making development a multi-pronged challenge. Only 11.4 per cent of the population has access to electricity. The weakened infrastructure of Malawi has limited space to absorb shocks, considering its external debt stress.
How You Can Lend a Helping Hand
My Bridge International UK ensures access to basic healthcare for the inhabitants of Malawi with preventative actions in communities with risk communication, providing hygiene and medical kits, handwashing supplies, and monitoring the outbreak with the continued support of education, care, and social services. Our goal is to help families in need, so they don’t have to sacrifice their nutrition, education, and personal belongings for making medical payments. Together we can help Malawians increase access to high-quality healthcare.
Join hands with My Bridge International UK by donating to Malawi. Our mission for Malawians includes food supplies to terminate the ongoing hunger crisis, building clean water wells for water consumption, establishing COVID-19 relief funds, and saving the children with educational support in Africa.