Mutharika: Unhealthy police cannot protect Malawi

First Lady Gertrude Mutharika has challenged police officers to take their health seriously, warning that protecting the nation starts with protecting themselves.

Speaking in Lilongwe on Wednesday, Mutharika who is also Beautify Malawi (BEAM) Trust Patron, linked the wellbeing of law enforcers to sanitation and their ability to effectively serve and protect Malawians.

She made the remarks during the launch of a partnership between BEAM Trust and the Police Women Welfare Association, where she questioned how officers could effectively protect the country while battling preventable illnesses.

“How could police officers protect the nation and do their work without good health?” she asked.

She said police officers need healthy environments to perform their duties, arguing that the work of the Police Women Welfare Association in promoting healthy families and cleaner surroundings therefore goes beyond the police service and contributes to the wellbeing of the nation.

Mutharika then said the partnership was born from the realisation that activities being undertaken by police women, including their skills and income-generating initiatives, are aligned with the objectives of BEAM Trust.

The First Lady said the work of the women helps families remain healthy while also giving them opportunities to become financially self-reliant, making their contribution important both at household and national level.

According to Mutharika, Malawi’s development also depends on the health of its people, as a population that is frequently sick cannot fully contribute to the country’s economic and social progress.

She urged Malawians to make sanitation a personal responsibility, saying cleanliness should start in homes and does not depend on whether a family lives in a large or expensive house.

Mutharika said Malawi faces many challenges, but keeping homes and communities clean is something citizens can take responsibility for, expressing hope that the country could eventually earn a reputation as a clean nation.

As part of the partnership, BEAM Trust has contributed K10 million and pledged to provide five sewing machines to support the police women’s initiatives, strengthening a collaboration that seeks to link healthier environments with healthier and more empowered families.