BBC Interview of Life on the Spectrum

‘I adore her now’: Mother learns to live with child’s autism in a country with little help

Nicky Milne BBC Africa Eye, Mzuzu & Lilongwe

Martha Ongwane looks adoringly at her bouncy, giggling four-year-old, unable to believe that just two years ago she.....

ST JOHN OF GOD TEAM VISITS PARLIAMENT

Saint John of God Hospitaller Services visited Parliament to share updates on the Early Inclusive Services Project and the Umoza Project.

The Early Inclusive Services Project is being implemented in Lilongwe Rural and Mzimba North with support from Christian Blind Mission. The project focuses on promoting the rights of children and youth with disabilities. During the visit, the team highlighted some of the key challenges these children face, including limited access to health and rehabilitation services, lack of disability-friendly school infrastructure, and ongoing stigma in communities. The engagement with Members of Parliament aimed to raise awareness and encourage support for more inclusive services.

The visit also provided an opportunity for children under the Umoza Project to experience Parliament firsthand. The Umoza Project supports street-connected children through rehabilitation and education. For many of the children, it was their first time travelling outside Mzuzu. While at Parliament, they learned how proceedings are conducted, which will support their own child parliament activities.

The children interacted with Parliament’s Civic Education Manager, Mr. Peter Njinga, who explained the role of Parliament and responded to their questions.

The delegation was acknowledged by the First Deputy Speaker during the sitting. They also met with the Minister of Gender, Disability and Social Welfare, Honourable Mary Navicha, who expressed support for the projects and openness to further engagement with Saint John of God.

Ministry of Health awarding St John of God Lilongwe and Mzuzu with 4star rating

We are honoured and thrilled to announce that today during the Ministry of Health Integrated Health Sector Annual review meeting, both our Lilongwe and Mzuzu health facilities were officially each awarded a prestigious 4-star certification by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation

In a ceremony presided over by the Guest of Honour, Hon. Minister of Health Madalitso Baloyi (MP), our services were recognised as being among the Top 10 Health Facilities in Malawi for Quality of Care standing out among over 200 facilities assessed nationwide.

This achievement is part of the Ministry’s Stepwise Quality of Care (QOC) Program, where facilities are rated from 1 to 5 stars by certified National Assessors. The rigorous evaluation covers clinical services (inpatient care, out patient care, mental health services, emergency care), leadership and management (governance, human resource and expertise, patient rights and care, risk management), clinical support (medication management and diagnosis), and facility standards assessed through observation, interviews, documentation reviews, and direct feedback from our valued service users.

This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to exceptional healthcare, leadership, and patient-centred service. We extend our deepest gratitude to our dedicated teams, partners, and the community we serve.