Media Centre

On November 7, 2024, Lighthouse Trust hosted a delegation from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health, led by the Directorate of HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis, for an insightful knowledge exchange visit. This Country-to-Country Learning Exchange, under the CQUIN learning network, served as a valuable platform for sharing best practices and strengthening collaboration in implementing Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD) models for HIV programs.

The goal of this visit was to foster collaboration and facilitate the exchange of innovative approaches and solutions that support recipient of care (RoC) re-engagement in HIV care, particularly for those at risk of falling out of care or interrupting treatment. By examining strategies for re-engagement across the full care continuum, the Lighthouse shared its expertise on resources, implementation steps, and overcoming common challenges.

A key highlight of the visit was the “Welcome Back Package,” a patient-centred, four-step approach aimed at reintroducing individuals to care. This model involves addressing RoC fears of returning, understanding reasons for disengagement, connecting RoC to tailored services, and celebrating their commitment to staying in care.

The Directorate of HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis expressed its gratitude to Lighthouse for its impactful contributions to Malawi’s national HIV program. The Zimbabwean delegation also commended several innovative practices at Lighthouse, including the national third-line ART assessment process, the patient-centred “welcome back” culture and buddy system, male engagement strategies, and the use of case managers for high viral load patients, as well as dedicated high viral load clinics.

Representatives from the International Centre for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP) also voiced their hopes that Lighthouse will continue to receive visitors from other countries, fostering collaboration to improve re-engagement rates across the region.

#LighthouseTrust #LighthouseCenter #CountrytoCountryLearningExchange #Malawi #Zimbabwe

Lighthouse Trust is thrilled to announce a generous donation by Feed the Hungry Project to our Umodzi Family Center of Excellence at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre. On October 16th, 2024, the CoE received 531 cartons of rice and soya blend, a nutritional boost specially designated to support our young recipients of care!

This donation contains 20 packets per carton and will primarily benefit our Kinder, Pre-adolescent, and adolescent cohorts, reaching some of the most vulnerable groups in the CoE’s care:

Ages 0-4 years: 100 children

Ages 5-9 years: 162 children

Ages 10-17 years: 580 children

Ages 18-19 years: 84 youth

This resource boost was made possible thanks to Benson Kafumbi, Umodzi Family Center Field Tracer, who connected with Feed the Hungry Project while out in the field and proactively inquired about potential support for the CoE. His initiative led to the proposal that made this partnership possible, reminding us that resource mobilization is truly a team effort.

Every team member has the power to make a difference in our work, and Benson’s example shows how a single conversation can blossom into tangible support for hundreds of children and young people.

Our heartfelt thanks to Feed the Hungry Project for this incredible contribution! Together, we’re building healthier futures and supporting families in need.

#LighthouseTrust #UmodziFamilyCenter #FeedTheHungry #ResourceMobilization #TogetherForHealth #SupportingOurYouth

The newly appointed Ambassador of the United States of America to Malawi, His Excellency Robert Scott, and his wife, Anne, visited Mzimba District Hospital, a Government of Malawi hospital that Lighthouse Trust provides direct service delivery and technical support in integrated HIV Prevention, Treatment and Care services among other sites in the Northern Region of Malawi.

The visit, which took place on Monday, 13^th January 2020, was organized to familiarize the Ambassador with the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) support for sustainable HIV epidemic control, TB services, and cervical cancer screen and treat services. In attendance for the visit were the Country Director for CDC, Dr Andrew Auld; Mzimba South Acting Director of Health and Social Services, Dr Lumbani Munthali; the Executive Director of the Lighthouse Trust, Prof Sam Phiri; as well as Jhpiego’s Gateway Project Director, Ms. Gertrude Chipungu.

The board chairman of the Lighthouse Trust, Dr. Charles Mwansambo this year encouraged Manzoor Bheda to continue supporting the Lighthouse even though he is retiring as a Lighthouse board member.

Dr. Mwansambo said this as the board of trustees and Lighthouse staff were bidding official farewell to Manzoor Bheda, a renowned business man, who has been an effective board member of the Lighthouse since its inception.

In his speech Mwansambo commended Bheda for the contributions he has made so far and asked him to continue representing the Lighthouse in the business arena, “I would say that you are retired but not tired, we anticipate that you will continue being our ambassador in the business community” he said.

The board chair added that the fruits of Bheda’s presence in the business sector have already started showing as Mr. Haroon Sacranie, the Chairman of ZST Investment Limited has joined the board of trustees.

The board chairman of the Lighthouse Trust, Dr. Charles Mwansambo this year encouraged Manzoor Bheda to continue supporting the Lighthouse even though he is retiring as a Lighthouse board member.

Dr. Mwansambo said this as the board of trustees and Lighthouse staff were bidding official farewell to Manzoor Bheda, a renowned business man, who has been an effective board member of the Lighthouse since its inception.

In his speech Mwansambo commended Bheda for the contributions he has made so far and asked him to continue representing the Lighthouse in the business arena, “I would say that you are retired but not tired, we anticipate that you will continue being our ambassador in the business community” he said.

The board chair added that the fruits of Bheda’s presence in the business sector have already started showing as Mr. Haroon Sacranie, the Chairman of ZST Investment Limited has joined the board of trustees.