Malawi risks losing K535 million Global Fund project
By Deogratias Mmana:
Malawi risks losing a Global Fund project worth K535 million for the provision of logistical services for long-lasting insecticides treated bed nets (LLINs).
The Ministry of Health (MoH) was supposed to have started the distribution of 9,200,000 LLINs to 25 districts in the country in 2021 as one way of preventing the occurrence of malaria.
When MoH announced that Mulli Brothers Limited had won the tender in October 2021, Attorney General (AG) Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda stopped the process, arguing that the company was one of those on the government’s black list.
In protest, the company dragged the AG to court, where it challenged his decision, with the court ruling that the company was free to participate in government tenders.
The contract was re-advertised and the results are yet to come out.
Meanwhile, the Global Fund has indicated that the money will be frozen in June next year.
Global Fund Public Relations Manager in Switzerland Ravini Senanayake said in an emailed response to The Daily Times that Malawi has up to June 30 2024 to use funds it received in 2021 for malaria, HIV and Aids and tuberculosis response.
“With regards to your questions, the Global Fund’s current funding cycle for Malawi ends on 30 June 2024.
“Therefore, any funding allocated to Malawi for malaria, HIV or TB remains active until that date,” Senanayake said.
MoH spokesperson Adrian Chikumbe promised to respond to our questionnaire on the status of the project in due course.
But the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) said Monday that it only got an application for ‘No Objection’ from MoH on Friday last week.
PPDA said it would operate within its legal mandate and not break the law for fear of losing the money.
“PPDA wishes to inform you that it received an ‘Application for No Objection’ from MoH on long lasting mosquito nets on April 21 2023,” said PPDA Public Relations and Communication Manager Kate Kujaliwa.
“Nonetheless, you may wish to be reminded that procurement processes have to be executed in accordance to the set procedures. As such, the process could not be compromised solely because a certain project would expire at such and such a date,” she added.
Health rights activist Maziko Matemba urged the government to address challenges that are there so that the funds are not lost.
“It is important for government to resolve the contractual issues on time to avoid losing funds as every contract has a clause of engagement,” Matemba said.
Malawi Health Equity Network Executive Director George Jobe concurred with Matemba, saying Malawi cannot afford to let the opportunity pass it by.
“We urge the Ministry of Health, PPDA and others to do their work in a right way and ensure that we do not lose that money,” Jobe said, adding that malaria is a great killer in Malawi.
In 2021, National Malaria Control Programme Manager Michael Kayange said the country had 6.9 million malaria cases and recorded 2,500 deaths.
“We do annual statistics and, so, by the end of last year, we registered 6.9 million cases and about 2,500 deaths. Each time we distribute nets through mass campaign, we register a 30 percent reduction in rate and sustained reduction in deaths,” Kayange said.
The campaign is supported by the Global Fund through MoH Project Implementation Unit to support the National Malaria Control Programme.
