The Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme – MLW says capacity building is key in ensuring that community structures are fully contributing to the developmental goals of their areas.

Communications and Policy Engagement Coordinator of MLW Pauline Hellen Mlogeni was speaking in Zomba on Thursday after a two-day training for Mwambo Radio Listening Club – RLC in T/A Mwambo area in the district.

She said MLW believes that when community structures are well equipped with relevant skills and adequate knowledge, they stand to benefit and there is significant progress in all areas including health.

“The trainings are under our flagship radio programme, Umoyo N’kukambirana, and we are trying to add capacity to RLCs to ensure that they share the correct messages to the communities. We noticed that there was lack of community trainings on how they can craft their plays and songs which carry messages on health and research,” said Mlogeni.

Commenting on the training, T/A Mwambo said the shared knowledge will strengthen the resilience of his community in terms of disease prevention.

“My area is also struggling with cases of cholera as is the case across the country and these youths will help in spreading the messages on prevention measures through theatre, songs and poems,” T/A Mwambo said.

The drama trainings are being conducted in all districts that MLW has a radio listening club under Umoyo N’kukambirana Radio Programme which are Balaka, Zomba, Mangochi, Chikwawa, Dedza, Mangochi, Mzimba, Nkhotakota and Nkhatabay.