Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Malawians die of AIDS every year.
ActionAid in Malawi
ActionAid has been active in Malawi since 1990 and now works alongside communities to improve access to basic services such as water, health and education.
Health services are limited and out of reach for most poor families. We train village health workers and HIV counsellors, who share information and provide health services. We also help communities to provide access to safe, reliable water supplies.
Primary education is now free in Malawi, but student/teacher ratios and drop-out rates are high. We are helping communities build school classrooms and teachers' accommodation, and are providing teacher training and adult literacy classes.
ActionAid is teaching villagers new farming techniques, and helping them establish savings and credit groups which can help them invest in their livelihoods.
Fulale Sikaliyoti is anxious to improve the local water supply.
"There is a spring nearby, about 2km away. I am upset because it is not protected. I do not allow my children to go there, the sides are slippery and a child could easily fall in and be injured, so I must go and collect the water myself."
Essential Stats
| Malawi | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 13.93million (2009) | 21.5 million (2009) |
| Area | 118,484 km2 | 7,703,581 km2 |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $6.16 billion (2009) | $970.6 billion (2009) |
| GDP per capita | $440 (2009) | $44,598 (2009) |
| Human Development Index | 0.437 (2006) | 0.965 (2006) |
| Life expectancy (male/female) | 48/48 (2005-2010) | 79/84 (2005-2010) |
| Adult literacy (%) | 64.1 (1995-2005) | 99 (1995-2005) |
Sources: IMF, UN data, Human Development Index, UN statistics
