IRISH PRESIDENT PROMISES TO OFFER SUPPORT TO MALAWI

Irish President, Michael Higgins has promised to help the country fight against HIV and AIDS, hunger and Malaria among other areas.

Higgins said this upon arrival at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe on Monday where he was welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda and other government officials.
He said the trip will among other areas help to secure first hand information and experience on what Malawi as a country is facing and also discus with President Peter Mutharika on programmes that will directly improve the lives of Malawians.

“The relation between Malawi and Ireland is one of the very deep friendship, we have bilateral programmes that are very important to us. We have about ten Non Governmental Organizations(NGOs) working in the country and my interest is to see all the projects being implemented by my Government and asses the impacts they are making to the people of Malawi and further facilitator ways on how we can assist the most vulnerable.

“Malawi combines some of the great challenges such as HIV and AIDS, hunger and I have been interested in how the country extricates itself from these challenges. I hope there is space from the international community and Ireland in particular to make some of improvements in areas such as Health, HIV and AIDs and education,” Higgins explained,
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He added, “I am privileged to be here and the talks I will have will dwell much on the assistance we can make to the country Malawi particularly now that we have started a new chapter discussing of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).”

The Irish President also said his visit aims at assessing the impact of the seed and fertilizer subsidy programme that his government is directly assisting.

While in the country, Higgins will among other activities hold meeting with local community participating in Irish aid funded resilience programme in Salima.