DAPP Dowa Farmers Club Project Hands Over Physiotherapy Centre
The DAPP Dowa Women Farmers’ Club project has handed over a physiotherapy centre to Manondo community in Traditional Authority Nkupula in Dowa district. The centre is expected to reach out to over 50 children from the surrounding communities through restoring of movement and functioning of body parts when affected by injuries, illness or a disability.
The facility has been furnished with beds, matress’ and toys for children to play with when they go to receive assistance.
In attendance during the handover ceremony was the Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA) Rehabilitation Technician Officer from Dowa Thokozani Mekisen who expressed gratitude towards the rehabilitation of the facility saying it will lessen the pressure of having to visit every child in their homes. She added that this centre will, apart from reaching out to people with disabilities, be used as a health facility to the community where pregnant women and lactating mothers will be accessing their antenatal clinics as such she urged the community to take good care of the facility.
Echoing this was Project Manager for DAPP Dowa Women Farmers’ club Paul Chiziwa who called for the community to develop a sense of ownership and continue developing the centre whenever necessary. He emphasized that if the communities take good care of the facility other organization will see the need to continue working with the community.
Representing the guest of owner during the handover ceremony was the Senior Group Village Headman Manondo who said he was thankful for the facility in his area. He said the community will strive to build other structures at the centre for other health services. The leader also called on the communities surrounding the area to take care of the facility and that parents should be in the forefront making sure that children do not play around the structure because they may end up breaking the glasses which is not a good development.
The event saw the presence of 26 traditional leaders from 26 villages that surround the centre. 44 children with disabilities have already been identified from within the villages and they are expected to start benefiting.
The event was spiced up by performances by local women and traditional dances that entertained the audience.
