Churches Action in Relief and Development (CARD) has provided psychosocial support to families affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in Machinga, Malawi, Development Diaries has gathered.

This was made known by the Senior Project Officer of the organisation, Grant Mzembe, during a community engagement meeting in Machinga.

Mzembe said that the leaders will take messages of hope to the families and discourage stigmatisation of Covid-19 patients.

‘The three-month initiative will also intensify Covid-19 preventive messages through radio and public address system on mobile van’, he said.

The Nsanama Area Development Committee chairperson, Henderson Aubi, said, ‘People affected by the virus are facing stigmatisation and discrimination from community members. People returning from South Africa are being sidelined by the community even after undergoing Covid-19 screening’.

Speaking further, Aubi urged community leaders to report anyone coming from outside the country to authorities.

Source: Nyasa Times