Donors restore funding to Banja La Mtsogolo
By Judith Moyo, Nyasa Times
Development partners, USAID, UKaid, Flanders International Cooperation Agency and Royal Norwegian Embassy have disclosed that they have restated their commitment to help Banja La Mtsogolo after investigations into abuse of aid proved futile.
The donors made their position known on Thursday through a joint statement which Nyasa Times has seen.
“In line with the Ministry of Health’s statement on 5th December 2012, we the development partners would like to reaffirm our support and partnership with Banja La Mtsogolo and Marie Stopes International.
“BLM has demonstrated that they are a transparent organization, most recently by commissioning an independent inquiry to investigate the allegations issued against the BLM management staff in Malawi. The results of which have shown no evidence to substantiate the
allegations. The results confirm to us that BLM is managed with integrity, sound ethics and good management,” reads the statement in part.
BLM country director, Linda Edwards said: “Our relationships with the development partners are crucial. With their funding and ongoing support, the team here at BLM are able to do what we do best-provide choice to the women and men of Malawi, all across Malawi, allowing
them to take control of their sexual and reproductive health.
“I am proud of the work that we do, particularly the fact that we work in areas where healthcare services are not easy to access, and I am proud of our relationships that enable us to continue this vital work.”
BLM provides family planning services in Malawi and gives choices to men and women to make choices about their sexual and reproductive health.
Employees at BLM petitioned several institutions to conduct a thorough investigation into what was happening at BLM including all issues of mismanagement, fraud, racism as claimed by local Malawian staff.
