On Wednesday, the Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) had the honor of hosting Dr. Penelope Campbell, Representative of UNICEF Malawi, who paid a courtesy visit to the MRCS headquarters. The visit was a meaningful occasion to reaffirm and strengthen the longstanding partnership between UNICEF Malawi and the Malawi Red Cross Society.
During the meeting, Madam Campbell expressed her satisfaction with the remarkable progress MRCS has made in developing the capacity of its staff and volunteers across various branches nationwide. She emphasized the importance of these efforts in ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of MRCS’s humanitarian initiatives. “We are very pleased with how the Malawi Red Cross is equipping its teams with the skills and resources needed to continue making a positive impact in communities across the country,” said Campbell.
Mr. Chifundo Kalulu, MRCS Secretary General, conveyed heartfelt appreciation to UNICEF Malawi for its continued support. He acknowledged that the partnership has been instrumental in enabling MRCS to reach vulnerable populations more efficiently and build resilience at community levels.
Bhawna Vajpai, UNICEF Malawi’s Chief of Humanitarian Action and Resilience, also shared insights during the meeting. She praised MRCS as an outstanding partner in emergency response operations and called for increased collaboration, especially in areas of community preparedness and resilience building. She highlighted that joint efforts could further enhance the capacity of communities to withstand and recover from crises.
Both UNICEF Malawi and the Malawi Red Cross Society have committed to deepening their collaboration going forward. They agreed to align their partnership with the strategic priorities of both organizations, focusing on capacity building, emergency preparedness, and resilience strengthening to better serve the people of Malawi.
Dr. Campbell brings to Malawi extensive experience from her previous position as UNICEF Representative in Zambia and her broad work in child rights and humanitarian initiatives. She is dedicated to advancing children's rights and improving children's lives in Malawi, emphasizing collaboration with national institutions such as the Malawi Red Cross to support disadvantaged children. She holds a Medical Doctorate and has over 20 years of experience in health-related fields, including leadership in international health and nutrition programs across East and Southern Africa.