Background to Region
The population of LMP’s target region (Likoma and Chizumulu
islands in Malawi, and the nearby lakeshore region of Mozambique)
is 25,000. The majority of project activity ’
so far has been on Likoma, although work in the areas of agricultural and HIV Aids on Chizumulu is well established. Work in Mozambique to date has been limited to trading and the estabishment of links for future work, with LMPM's HIV services and vocational training programme open to residents of Mozambique. Average household
income for the region is under £480. Electricity
was introduced to the islands in 2002 but few households can
afford the service, and none of the villages has running water.
Both islands experience food shortages for up to five months
a year and nutritional status is very low. Due to soil infertility,
soil erosion and small land holding size (less than 0.1 ha)
agricultural production is minimal and the islands are almost
totally dependent on maize brought in by boat from the Malawi
mainland, and on the nearby Mozambique villages for firewood
and building timbers. The Mozambican villages in turn are largely
dependent on the islands for processed foods and other items
imported from the Malawi mainland. The main source of income
for the region is fishing. AIDS is a major problem, with the latest statisitics from LMP indicating that 15% of the population are HIV positive.
In
the year 2002 Likoma District Assembly had identified 14 major
issues of concern contributing to the poverty in the district.
The fields targeted by LMP are marked with a star (*):
Food
in-security*
High prevalence of diseases*
Inadequate district infrastructure and means of transport*
Lack of electricity
Low level income*
High incidence of HIV/Aids*
Increasing number of orphans*
High maternal and infant mortality rate*
limited access to social amenities*
Environmental degradation*
Low literacy rate
Poor livestock management*
High level of insecurity*
Lack of rehabilitation of facilities for the disabled, insane
and aged
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