AWRIM Commended for Healthcare Efforts

The Association of Women in Religious Institutes of Malawi (AWRIM) Healthcare Network, operating under the Hilton Foundation, has been praised for its role in providing healthcare services to vulnerable communities.

Hilton Foundation Programs Officer for Africa, Sister Agnes Njeri of the Congregation of St. Joseph of Mombasa, expressed her admiration on Monday 16th February in Lilongwe, during her visit and meeting with the board of trustees, which includes superiors from all congregations in the network.

According to Sister Njeri, she is impressed with the Sister’s work in Malawi under the Hilton Foundation project and pledged continued support.

“The Network is doing very well here in Malawi. They have conducted awareness campaigns and medical camps, and we will journey with them to reach more vulnerable people,” she said.

Vice Chairperson of the board of trustees, Sister Agnes Banda of the Sisters of Divine Providence, said the visit had empowered them and reaffirmed their commitment to making the project sustainable in Malawi.

Before the meeting, Sister Teleza Mulenga of the Congregation of the Daughters of Blessed Maria Teresa, who serves as project coordinator, conducted training sessions with project implementers.

She emphasized the importance of rigorous research, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure that healthcare projects deliver meaningful and lasting impact.

Speaking in an interview, Sister Mulenga highlighted the introduction of the Cobol application as a crucial tool for project implementers.

“This tool is very helpful because it gives us proper feedback on what is happening on the ground. Since the Sisters began implementing this program last year, we have already seen significant changes,” she explained.

She noted that the project has improved access to healthcare services for many rural communities.

Meanwhile, Sister Mercy Kanyumbo of the Daughters of Wisdom, serving at St. Joseph Hospital in Nguludi under the Archdiocese of Blantyre, described the training as vital. She said it would help coordinators collect essential data to improve service delivery and develop new initiatives for rural communities.

She added that since the project began at St. Joseph Hospital, community access to healthcare services has noticeably improved.

The project which started in 2025 under the Hilton Foundation, the AWIRIM Healthcare Network focuses on providing health services in rural communities and it has reached over 9000 people in different communities.

In Malawi from different dioceses. the project is being implemented by eight congregations, Daughters of Blessed Maria Teresa, Sisters of Charity of Ottawa, Sisters of Divine Providence, Sisters of Our Lady of Amersfoort ,Poverelle Sisters, Sisters of the Holy Rosary, Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Daughters of Wisdom.

By Titus Jata Phiri