MALAWI COVID-19 Situation Rep

ort A Health Surveillance Assistant, Spicter Chuma, walks out of the tent pitched for COVID-19 suspects at Kameza in Blantyre ©UNICEF2020

Reporting Period: 10 to 16 June 2020

Highlights Malawi COVID-19 Situation Report No. 12 • The Malawi Red Cross Society with UNICEF support screened more than 1,300 returnees and deportees entering Situation as of 15 June 2020 through the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe and

Mwanza points of entry in Southern Malawi. confirmed cases • UNICEF has supported the Ministry of Health to procure 564 over 8,000 face masks to be distributed in early infant 73 recoveries diagnosis testing facilities to ensure the safety of Health workers and people living with HIV. 6 deaths

• Save the Children with UNICEF support has completed 8642 tested samples revamping of all the targeted 50 Community Victim support UNITs (CVSUs) with a total of 514 CVSU members oriented. 485 active cases The CVSUs will provide support services to victims/survivors of violence, in 6 districts. Source: 2020/06/15 Malawi COVID- 19 Situation report, Public Health • During the reporting week, over 38,000 people were reached with WASH-related messages through mobile van messaging. Another more than 9,000 people attended demonstrations on proper handwashing.

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Situation overview

As of 15 June 2020, Malawi has confirmed 564 COVID-19 cases in 27 out of the 28 districts of the country with six deaths and 73 recoveries. Of these, 448 are imported, 101 are locally transmitted, 15 are under investigation, and 485 cases are active.

During the reporting period, Malawi received an additional 415 returnees from neighbouring countries, mostly South Africa and 95 from other foreign countries. The number of Malawian returnees from the diaspora is projected to increase, considering that most countries are beginning to lift lockdown measures. UNICEF has developed a plan of action for returnees to guide the implementation of the key actions for reception and management of returnees.

Screening of all returnees at the points of entry such as Mwanza, Kamuzu International Airport and Songwe for temperature and other symptoms is ongoing after which the returnees are moved to a holding centre for the collection of samples and testing. About 34 of the 184 returnees that left the Kamuzu Stadium holding centre in Blantyre prematurely have been traced and isolated. Efforts are being made to ensure that all the returnees are tracked and self-quarantined.

As of 15 June, 8,642 tests have been conducted from 34 (14 PCR and 20 GeneXpert) testing centres across Malawi; increasing from a total of 25 over a period of one week.

Programme response by UNICEF and partners

Humanitarian Leadership, Coordination and Strategy

Humanitarian Strategy

UNICEF Malawi is working in the following areas of strategic priority against COVID-19: • Public health response to reduce coronavirus transmission and mortality • Continuity of health, education, nutrition and protection services • Assessing and responding to the immediate secondary impacts of COVID-19 • Strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE)

UNICEF maintains critical preparedness and response operations, including operational humanitarian access corridors, and delivery of services in Health, Education, Child and Social Protection, WASH, Nutrition and Communication for Development (C4D) areas to prevent and control infections, ensure continuity of education, promote positive behaviours, preventing transmission and ensuring the protection of children rights, especially of the most vulnerable one.

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Humanitarian leadership and coordination

Government coordination mechanisms

• A rapid response team is in place under the Presidential COVID-19 Taskforce to oversee the reception of returnees and deportees from South Africa. The Presidential Task Force continues to engage in weekly meetings. • Draft Standard Operating Procedures have been prepared under the leadership of the Ministry of Disaster Management Affairs and Public Affairs (MODMAPE) and the MoH for management of returnees and are currently being reviewed by clusters. • The government continues to conduct press briefings aimed at providing clear information on the outbreak. • As per the national preparedness and response plans, several clusters remain "activated" at the national level for the response of which UNICEF is co-leading four of the clusters (WASH, Nutrition, Education and Protection). All the clusters are meeting and are closely monitoring the situation in addition to updating the National Plan while at the same time supporting the implementation of preparedness and response actions. (https://calendar.google.com/). • The National Disaster Preparedness and Relief Committee continues to meet weekly to review recommendations from the cluster system.

UN coordination mechanisms

• The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and clusters continue to hold weekly meetings to ensure better coordination and track progress in the COVID-19 response. Clusters submit weekly reports to HCT meetings to track progress and provide necessary strategic oversight. • The HCT in Malawi launched an Emergency Appeal on 4 May. The Appeal urgently seeks to support the National Covid-19 Preparedness and Response Plan launched on 8 April. • A funding tracking tool was developed to record all contributions to the National COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan and the Flash Appeal. This will help to keep track of the resources available and the funding gaps.

Malawi COVID-19 Supply Chain system • The Supply Portal, managed by UNICEF, continues to facilitate requests by national authorities and humanitarian partners for strategic and essential supplies. • UNICEF continues to participate in the Logistics cluster meeting under the leadership of the Ministry of Transport and WFP and the Health medical supplies committee. UNICEF is a key member of the cluster given its procurement services function and its role in the coordination of the supply chain portal requests in Malawi.

Summary Analysis of Programme Response

Strengthening public health response to improve Infection and Prevention Control (IPC) and provide critical medical and WASH supplies

About 2,500 Malawians have participated in the UNICEF COVID-19 Youth Challenge which went live on 3 June 2020. Forty-three per cent of the participants are 18 -24 years old and 40 per cent female. The majority have completed secondary school education and are employed. This initiative is a collaboration with Segal

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Family Foundation, CARTEDO, Foundation Botnar and the Department for International Development (DFID).

UNICEF has submitted to the Ministry of Health a proposed solution for drone transportation of COVID-19 tests. Although the government’s sample transportation request was initially prompted by the large number and sudden arrival of returnees from South Africa, the case for potential use has since evolved. The drone transportation of samples will now also cater to truck drivers and regular arrivals at the Mwanza border to help expedite the COVID-19 test results and prevent unnecessary wait times at the border. A site evaluation will be carried out on 16-20 June by the MoH, Department of Civil Aviation, and DFID/UNICEF’s drone operator (Swoop Aero) to address sensitivities surrounding the border and airspace between Mwanza and Blantyre.

With funding from the UKaid, UNICEF through the Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) screened 1,304 returnees and deportees entering through the Kamuzu International Airport and Mwanza Points of Entry. MRCS through its volunteer base is also supporting contact tracing and active search of over 245 returnees who escaped from the Stadium on 27 May 2020. To date, 40 of those who escaped have been identified. Furthermore, UNICEF partner United Purpose (UP) in liaison with Blantyre Regional Water Development Office provided safe water by trucking as backup water supply to Blantyre Emergency treatment Unit (ETU). UNICEF also delivered additional essential WASH supplies to be distributed by United Purpose to the returnees hosted in Blantyre and Lilongwe.

Ten additional latrines were installed at Kamuzu College of Nursing, Blantyre to serve the returnees during screening. To date, a total of 45 emergency latrines have been installed at ETUs in Blantyre, Mwanza, Mchinji, Mzuzu and KCH and at border posts in Mwanza and Mchinji. Each latrine ensures privacy and has a functional handwashing station with soap.

During the reporting week, an additional 38,400 were reached with WASH-related messages through mobile van messaging. Another 9,183 people were reached with proper handwashing demonstrations. So far, UNICEF has reached 1,410,000 people with WASH-related messages through different approaches. Of these, about 395,000 are children under 18 years, and 1,015,000 are adults. The approaches include community radios, hand washing demonstrations at markets, communities and townships, mobile vans, IEC materials and newspapers.

Repeat rapid water quality tests were conducted at Blantyre and Mzuzu ETUs, and all tested negative (safe for drinking). Since the onset of the COVID-19 preparedness and response interventions, a total of 34 water sources with the capacity to service a population of 8,500 people have been tested. Out of these, seven test results came out positive for faecal coliforms showing bacterial contamination.

Strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE)

UNICEF with funding from UKaid through Malawi Institute Journalism (MIJ), Story Workshop and Development Communications Trust (DCT) continue to support the implementation of Risk Communication and Community Engagement using various delivery platforms. Last week’s radio monitoring report showed that about 86 per cent of the people interviewed were able to recall the messages they heard through the radio broadcasts on issues of COVID, i.e. 320 people out of 370 people interviewed. Both the English and local language (Chichewa) animated videos continue to broadcast on the two national TV stations. Communication jingles and radio spots on COVID-19 and nutrition have been produced and have started to air in addition to the Zimachitika radio series. Cumulatively, over 8 million people continue to receive messages on COVID-19 prevention through TVs, U-report, print across the country and mass communication (3 National Radios, TVs and 12 Community radios).

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Community engagement activities also continue in 9 districts, and so far, about 176,800 people have been reached with COVID-19 messages through door to door, mobile van and community drama sessions. At the same time, communication support is being provided to returnees at different holding facilities.

Assessing and responding to the immediate secondary impacts of the COVID-19

As part of the continued efforts to support the government in the roll-out of the COVID-19 Urban Cash Intervention (CUCI), UNICEF in its role as the chair of the Malawi Social Protection Development Partners Group has facilitated the development of a comprehensive risk matrix covering financing and development partners’ concerns with regards to the upcoming social protection response to COVID-19 and identifying mitigation measures.

Continuity of health, education, nutrition and protection services

With existing funding from Gavi, UNICEF has procured and handed over 18 vehicles to the Ministry of Health for distribution of vaccines from National and Regional Cold Rooms, and distribution of vaccines and injection materials in 10 districts as well as demand creation by Health Education Services in effort to support health systems strengthening and service continuity.

UNICEF has also supported the MoH to procure over 8,000 face masks to be distributed in early infant diagnosis testing facilities to ensure the safety of health workers and people living with HIV. In addition, UNICEF through HIV thematic funds is procuring over 500 COVID-19 GeneXpert testing cartridges to support the MoH’s response to testing for COVID19. UNICEF is also giving technical support through reviewing and inputting into COVID19 diagnostics guideline which is in its final stage.

As part of the ongoing support to ensure continuity of learning, UNICEF is supporting the production of self- study materials on English, Mathematics, Chichewa, Agriculture and Biology. The materials which are targeted at Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSS) learners in hard-to-reach areas are in the final stages of production. This is in addition to the Emergency Radio Education Programme for primary learners (Standards 1-8) and the online learning platform for secondary learners (Form 1-2) which are ongoing.

With support from UNICEF, Save the Children, and Local Government Accountability and Performance (LGAP) project, the Ministry of Education has started orientation of District Councils and District Education Cluster members on the activation of district education clusters. So far, 9 out of 34 education districts (Mzimba, Rumphi, Karonga, Dedza, Ntcheu, Salima, NkhotaKota, Blantyre urban and rural and Zomba urban and rural) have been covered. After the training, the district education clusters are expected to develop action plans based on the national response plan.

UNICEF is supporting the Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) to provide basic Psychological First Aid (PFA) to callers and appropriate referrals and follow-ups in cases of child protection and Gender-Based Violence (GBV). From 4 to 10 June, YONECO’s GBV Crisis Line and Child Helpline received 780 calls (306 children, 474 adults / 657 males, 123 females). Of those calls, a total of 107 cases were related to GBV or child protection. Calls were received from 23 districts, which indicates a rise from 12 districts in the previous week. The highest number of cases were reported from Machinga district (15 cases), followed by Lilongwe (13 cases), and Zomba (12 cases). YONECO deployed 8 teams to follow up child marriage and rape/‘defilement’ cases in 4 districts, in collaboration with the Malawi Police Service, District Social Welfare Offices, and community-based mechanisms.

UNICEF partner Save the Children completed revamping of all the targeted 50 Community Victim Support Units (CVSUs) with a total of 514 CVSU members oriented (308 males, 206 female). The CVSUs will provide support services to victims/survivors of violence, in 6 districts (Machinga, Nsanje, Dowa, Ntchisi, Mzimba 5 and Nkhata Bay). From 3 to 11 June, 13 additional CVSUs (3 in Nkhata Bay, 3 in Mzimba, 4 in Nsanje, and 3 in Ntchisi) were oriented on their key roles and responsibilities in the wake of the COVID-19. A detailed gender-sensitive needs and capacity assessment for the 50 CVSUs has also been completed. Save the Children also continues supporting the district Protection Cluster meetings. From 3 to 11 June, a Protection Cluster meeting was conducted in Mzimba district with 23 participants. This intervention has been undertaken with support from the EU-funded Spotlight Initiative.

UNICEF continues to provide support to District Social Welfare Offices in the provision of child protection services using a case management approach. UNICEF is also providing technical support for the development of SOPs for Malawi Police Service and guidance for Social Workers. See the latest Protection Cluster dashboard (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uahfxFIilRSXxbsk7pJbhHnNfpZ-lDM0).

In collaboration with the World Relief, a total of 2,780 Area Development Committee (ADC) members, care group volunteers were sensitized on COVID-19 preventive measures in Lilongwe, Dowa and Nkhata- Bay districts. Also, 800 Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) and 26,000 care group volunteers in Lilongwe, Dowa, Nkhata Bay and Karonga were trained on Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) in the context of COVID-19 preventive measures in Lilongwe and Dowa. In addition, the World Relief has distributed 26,000 face masks for HSAs and care groups in the four districts.

UNICEF continued to support radio programmes on COVID-19 as a means of sensitizing communities on preventive measures of the pandemic in all the ten districts (Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Karonga, Kasungu, Mulanje Mzimba, Nkhata-Bay, Nkhotakota, Salima and Thyolo). UNICEF also supported orientation of 180 local leaders and 5,581 cluster leaders on COVID-19 prevention measures. To date, 233,800 households (approximately 1,052,000 people) have been reached with key nutrition preventive messages on COVID-19 through radio programs.

Furthermore, as co-lead of the Nutrition Cluster, UNICEF continued to facilitate the online coordination meetings which have been consistently well participated. Cluster members continue to conduct nutrition awareness campaigns (focusing on six food groups, food diversification, food preservation, storage, vitamin A supplementation and exclusive breasting in the context of COVID-19) in all districts in the country.

Human Interest Stories and External Media

The weekly radio programmes continue to be broadcast on Zodiak Broadcasting Station (92.7fm) twice every Tuesday. UNICEF has partnered with the Zodiak to produce a series of radio, TV and online programmes and news features on COVID-19 awareness, impact and prevention. During the reporting week, a special programme on parenting, to provide guidance and tips to parents in general and in the context of COVID-19 and raise awareness on the importance of parenting for Early Childhood Development was aired on Zodiak radio and TV in English and Chichewa.

UNICEF also supported a young journalist, 16-year-old Memory Matewere, who was trained under UNICEF’s youth media project, to participate in an online regional youth media conference to commemorate the Day of the African Child. During the conference, young journalists asked UNICEF experts questions about COVID-19 and its impact on children and young people. Memory’s blog is online. With UNICEF support, the Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ) have started gathering content on COVID-19 and its impact on children. They will produce ten radio programmes for MIJ radio - a national radio station.

UNICEF continues to produce stories, multimedia contents, infographics, engage with celebrities and influencers to promote Covid-19 messaging, countering myths and misinformation, and documenting our response in the field.

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A story on a KIND Fund scholar who talks about how her scholarship has help her, as well as COVID-19’s impact on school, has been published on our website. In commemorating the Day of the African Child, a creative writing competition on access to child-friendly has been launched. Apart from tackling child- friendly justice issues, the competition is also encouraging participants to express why it is important to improve child justice systems in Malawi, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, which makes children even more vulnerable.

UNICEF continues to use various digital platforms like the U-Report to extensively reach over 221,000 youths and adolescents in Malawi with messaging on COVID-19 through SMS, polling, open-end questions, quiz, information bots, social media, etc. The U-Report chatbot with information on COVID-19 from UNICEF, WHO and MOH is still live, and to date has registered over 502,000 responses.

U-Report has also been supporting the UNICEF Covid19 Youth Challenge powered by the Segal Family Foundation & the Social Impact Incubator Malawi through promotional messages. About 4, 650 U- Reporters have so far visited the challenge page through U-Report. UNICEF continues to collect personal experiences from U-Reporters on how their communities have been fighting COVID-19. The stories are published on U-Report Malawi and UNICEF websites and social media sites.

UNICEF is continuing to promote global, regional and local COVID-19 contents including on positive parenting (both in English and Chichewa) on the Internet of Good Things. The content can be accessed by audiences free of cost. UNICEF continues to push Covid-19 messages on its social media channels

UNICEF regularly updates its dedicated COVID-19 page on its website with latest news and information on UNICEF and its partners' response to COVID-19 in Malawi. It also contains useful guidance and reports on the global response to COVID-19. Last week, more than 2,000 viewers visited these contents and spent between two to 13 minutes on average on these contents.

Next SitRep: 24 June 2020

UNICEF Malawi COVID-19 website page: https://www.unicef.org/malawi/coronavirus-disease--19

Annex A: Summary of Programme Results

Total results as Sector Target of 3 June 2020 Health Number of healthcare facility staff and community health workers trained 400 312 in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Number of healthcare providers trained in detecting, referral and 400 312 appropriate management of COVID-19 cases Number of healthcare workers within health facilities and communities 2,500 2,260 provided with PPEs WASH Number of people reached with critical WASH supplies (including hygiene 5000 3,321 items) and services C4D Number of people reached on COVID-19 through messaging on 8,000,000 8,000,000 prevention and access to services Number of people engaged on COVID-19 through RCCE actions 30,150 176,765

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Number of people sharing their concerns and asking 5,000 3,012 questions/clarifications for available support services to address their needs through established feedback mechanisms Nutrition Number of caregivers of children aged 0-23 months reached with 500,000 200,000 messages aiming to promote breastfeeding in the context of COVID through national communication campaigns Number of children 6-59 months admitted for treatment of severe acute 8,000 3,166 malnutrition (SAM)" Child Protection Number of children, parents and primary caregivers provided with 1,500 659 community based mental health and psychosocial support Number of children without parental or family care provided with 30 0 alternative care arrangements Education Number of children supported with distance/home-based learning 2,139,311 55,688 Social Protection Number of households benefitting from new or additional social 457,000 0 assistance measures provided by governments to respond to COVID-19 with UNICEF support * This excludes people reached through national radios

Who to contact for Rudolf Schwenk Fungma Fudong Matteo Frontini further information: Representative, Malawi Chief of Communications, Community Development and Email: [email protected] Telephone: + 265 999 964 208 Resilience Chief of Section E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: +265 990 089 385 E-mail: [email protected]

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