Tambwali said St. Egidio’s DREAM program, together with the Balaka District Health Department, is implementing this project with the support of the Italian Cooperation Agency (AICS) from Italy.

The two-year project aims to improve the delivery of health services in the districts concerned, as more than 100 health workers are to be trained on how to handle different health cases, including HIV/AIDS and TB.
The project leader also indicated that the project aims to reach more than 11,000 HIV and TB patients while reducing cases of malaria, hepatitis, waterborne diseases and other neglected tropical diseases.
The Community of Sant’Egidio, through the DREAM program, wants to enhance the quality of services offered in 19 health facilities and we are also geared to strengthen laboratory services in the three districts of Balaka, Machinga and Mangochi.

“The project will also help communities in these districts to easily access various health services. This expresses our commitment to improve the country’s health sector,” Tambwali explained.
Balaka District Health and Social Services Director Dr. Eugene Katenga Kaunda thanked the Community of Sant’Egidio and its partner, AICS, for implementing the Bridge Gap project.

Katenga Kaunda called the project timely and said it will help improve livelihoods in Balaka and the other two districts.
“We thank the community of Sant’Egidio who, through DREAM, has implemented this project that aims to reduce the HIV/AIDS pandemic in our district, thus also in Balaka, Mangochi and Machinga.”

“The project will also support the district with Covid-19 IPDs and HIV capacity building for our health workers on case management and prevention, as well as providing computer equipment to all our ART clinics in 15 health centers. We really appreciate the support,” Kaunda said.