Malawi Pres. Banda commends Lions Club: ‘Africa needs to invest in youth, women’
Malawi President Joyce Banda has commended the Lions Club for their role in complementing government’s efforts through the provision of essential services in addition to alleviating people’s suffering.
Speaking on Friday when she opened the 51st Annual Convention for the Lions International District 412 at Sun and Sand Holiday resort, Mangochi, the Malawi leader noted the support Lions Club provide to the country.
She cited the construction of multimillion dollar eye hospital facilities at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Queens Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Mzuzu Central Hospital and recently at Zomba Central hospital. The provision of millions’ of Kwachas in bursaries for needy students which will help to empower the less privileges through access to education.
“Government believes that provision of essential services and improving the plight of the less fortunate in our society is a shared responsibility. We all have a critical role to play,” said President Banda Banda who together with First Gentleman, Retired Chief Justice Richard Banda became Lions in December, last year.
“While it is the responsibility of Government to put in place conducive policies and programs aimed at providing essential services like social protection interventions, there is equally a number of areas where all of us: the private sector, faith community, NGOs as well as individuals can participate.
“It is for this reason that I would like to commend the Lions’ Club for the role that you play in complementing Governments’ efforts to provide essential services to our people, as well as alleviating the suffering of the less fortunate in our communities,” Banda said.
Invest in youth, women
The Malawi leader also said Africa needs to invest in the youth and women who form a greater percentage of the labour workforce to hasten the continent’s prosperity.
“As a continent, we must invest in our human capital to take advantage of the large number of young people on the continent. We should use this ‘people power’ to transform our continent into a prosperous one,” said President Banda.
“We should not accept that children should suffer from malnutrition, learn under trees and scramble for opportunities to realize their potential. We should not accept that mothers should die while giving birth due to distance to health facilities,” she explained.
In his remarks, district governor for 412, Lion Clement Ndala commended the President for support the Lions Club district has been getting in its activities that include humanitarian projects.
He said though Lions Club does not earn money for the work it does, it remains committed to serving different communities for the betterment of the marginalized.
District 412 of the Lion’s Club International comprises Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi.
