Background to Region

The population of LMP’s target region, Likoma and Chizumulu islands in Malawi, is 13000. The majority of project activity so far has been on Likoma, but work in the areas of agricultural and HIV Aids on Chizumulu is well established. LMPM's HIV services are also 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. In 2010 a limited number of households were supplied with running water. The main source of income for the region is fishing.

In recent times food security was a major problem with the islands experiencing food shortages for up to five months a year. Since 2006 food security has been good, and nutritional status whilst still low has improved. These improvements have been due to a combination of greater government responsibility to ensure maize shipments to the district, and LMP's agricultural programme. However, due to soil infertility, endemic soil erosion and small land holding size (less than 0.1 ha) further increases in agricultural production are an ongoing challenge. With the islands still 70% reliant on maize brought in by boat from the Malawi mainland for their staple future food security is a real threat, and so continued agricultural development remains a priority.

Trade is primarily between the two islands and the nearby Mozambique lake shore villages. Likoma District relies heavily on the lake shore for firewood and building timbers, whilst the Mozambican villages in turn are largely dependent on the islands for processed foods and other items imported from the Malawi mainland.

AIDS is a major problem in the region and Malawi national statistics indicate a 14% HIV positive rate. This figure is in accordance with LMP's own data from 2005-08 based on over 4000 tests. However, since mid-2008 to October 2010, positive HIV test rates at LMP's HIV clinic have fallen to less than 6%. More research now needs to be conducted to inform future interventions which LMP aims to assist with in the near future. 

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