• Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X
  • Youtube
  • Linkedin
  • Home
  • About IFSW
  • Journals
  • Join
  • Contact
  • Member login

International Federation of Social Workers

Global Online conference

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Linkedin

Translate:

International Federation of Social Workers

  • Social Work Action
    • What is Social Work?
    • Climate Justice Program
    • IFSW and Covid-19
    • The Global Agenda
    • World Social Work Day
  • Regions
    • IFSW Africa
    • IFSW Asia and Pacific
    • IFSW Europe
    • IFSW Latin America and Caribbean
    • IFSW North America
  • Commissions
    • Education Commission
    • Ethics Commission
    • Indigenous Commission
    • United Nations Commission
  • Publications
    • Policies
    • Journals
    • Books
    • End of Year Reports
    • Information Hub
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Archive: General Meeting 2024
      • Login / Account
      • Documentation
      • Online Participation
    • Archive: General Meeting 2022
      • Login / Account
      • Documentation
    • Archive: 2020 Conference
      • Welcome
      • Keynote Speakers
      • Login / Account
      • Programme
      • Global Agenda
      • Contact
  • Shop
  • (0)

Malawi. ASWIM Statement on Covid-19

Information Type: Report, NewsTopic: IFSW, Social Work, Membership, Covid19

April 24, 2020

The Association of Social Workers in Malawi (ASWiM) is a registered membership-based organisation aimed at improving the delivery of social welfare services to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups of people. ASWiM has chapters in the northern, central, eastern and southern regions of Malawi with membership throughout the country, working in both rural and urban areas.

ASWiM is concerned with the upsurge of COVID-19, and would like to highlight the essential role Social Workers can play in the fight against the spread of Corona Virus and in mitigating the impact on the individuals, families and . Social workers can play an essential frontline role in the fight against the spread of the virus by supporting the affected to protect themselves and those around through social distancing and help them to access the needed services.

COVID-19 brings with it social, economic and physical sufferings such as feelings of panic, fear, shock, grief, loss of income, food insecurity, family disruption;  interruption in schooling including access to health care. ASWiM is therefore calling on its members to continue to avail themselves to provide essential services to those affected by the pandemic.

Key interventions by social workers in this crisis include:

  1. Providing mental health and psychosocial support, counselling and rehabilitation support to children and families impacted by COVID-19 including those facing abuse, domestic violence and discrimination.;
  2. Disseminating factual information about coronavirus to dispel misconceptions and fears;
  3. Ensuring that children affected by COVID-2019 have access to adequate alternative care arrangements as well as deliver protection services for children left without a care provider, due to the hospitalization or death of the parent or care provider;
  4. Facilitating referrals to other organizations and agencies for specialized Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), Child protection (CP) and Gender-based violence (GBV) services and other basic needs;
  5. Carrying out case management with those suspected and/or confirmed to be affected to prevent further spreading the virus.

As a response strategy, ASWiM will closely work with the of Population Planning and Social Welfare and other related ministries/department and partner organisations to ensure continuity of social services to the vulnerable population groups such as children, the elderly, disabled, single parents among others. ASWiM would be able to identify social workers or volunteers to constitute the response team at all levels. To this effect, ASWiM requests for support of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as masks, sanitizers and handing washing gel/soap to enable social workers effectively participate in the prevention and control of the virus. The items may be channelled through ASWiM Secretariat on: 0999 44 35 80 or 0994 58 75 86 or email: .

In dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, ASWiM would like to advise all social workers to observe and exercise self-care to protect themselves by among other things:

  • Making reasonable judgements as to whether their participation in a particular intervention will put them at risk or not;
  • If possible, attempt to provide the needed service and information on what to be done to both the victims and those close to them by remote while promoting social distancing;
  • Follow prescribe practice guidelines and protocols when dealing with affected individuals, families and communities; and
  • Stay connected with colleagues and support systems that are responding to this crisis.

ASWiM has released this Statement for consideration by the government of Malawi (Ministry of Population Planning and Social Welfare and the Ministerial Committee on COVID-19) of the need to  actively involve social workers in the efforts to prevent and contain further spread of the virus.

WE BELIEVE THAT TOGETHER WE CAN OVERCOME THIS CHALLENGE.

GOD BLESS

 

Felix Kakowa – ASWiM Interim President

Willard Manjolo –  ASWiM Board Chairman

Keywords: social work, Malawi, covid-19Region: AfricaLanguage: English

Primary Sidebar

Official IFSW statements relating to Covid-19

2 June: IFSW Call for Action on Equal Access to Vaccines

20 April: Co-building a New Eco-Social World: Leaving No One Behind. 160 Million Social Work and Health Workers Collaborate for a New World Future

4 March: Coalition of Health and Social Work International Professions Formed to Advocate for Global Equitable Access for Vaccine and to Increase health and Social Protection Workforce
English | Spanish

10 November: Practising During Pandemic Conditions: Ethical Guidance for Social Workers

4 November: To the Top of the Cliff: How social work changed with COVID-19

1 July: The Social Work Response to COVID-19 – Six Months On: Championing changes in services and preparing for long-term consequences

19 May: COVID-19: the struggle, success and expansion of social work – Rory Truell reflects on the profession’s global response, five months. English | Spanish

22 April: Weekly Report From IFSW On The Social Work Response To COVID-19: Number 5
English | Spanish

9 April: Femicides: When you live with the murderer. A reading in times of Compulsory Social Isolation

8 April: It is the time to replace models of nationalism and charity with new global ethical foundations: What the World Can Learn from International Social Work

7 April: Ethical Decision-making in the face of COVID-19

7 April: Decisiones éticas en el cotexto del Covid-19

1 April: Social Work Responds to Covid 19 – Report 3

30 March:Humaniratian request to telecomunication business owners

30 March: Pedido Humanitario a los empresarios de las Telecomunicaciones

26 March: As social workers work through the Covid 19 crisis we work towards a better world

21 March: Secretary-General report on the Social Work Response (video)

11 March: Statement on IFSW and Covid-19

1 March: Update on the Corona Virus for IFSW Members

Key documents

  • Global Definition of Social Work
  • Global Social Work Statement of Ethical Principles 
  • The Role of Social Work in Social Protection Systems
  • The People’s Charter for a New-Eco Social World

Footer

Copyright © 2025 International Federation of Social Workers · Registered Address: Maiengässli 4, 4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland · Registered charity number: CHE-109.240.290

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
MENU
  • Home
  • General Meeting 2024
    • Login / Account
    • Documentation
    • Online Participation
  • About IFSW
    • Governance
    • Secretariat
    • What we do
    • Our members
    • Partners
    • General Meetings
    • Executive Meetings
    • Elections
    • Executive committee area
      • Meeting papers 2018
    • Archives
    • Member login
  • Join
  • What is Social Work?
    • Global Definition of Social Work
    • Meet Social Workers from around the world
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Find your region
    • IFSW Africa
    • IFSW Asia and Pacific
    • IFSW Europe
    • IFSW Latin America and Caribbean
    • IFSW North America
  • Commissions
    • Education Commission
    • Ethics Commission
    • Indigenous Commission
    • United Nations Commission
  • Information Hub
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Archive: 2020 Conference
      • Programme
      • Welcome
      • Keynote Speakers
      • Login / Account
      • Global Agenda
      • Contact
    • Archive: European DM 2020
      • Home
      • Login / Account
    • Archive: European DM 2021
  • Social Work Action
    • The Global Agenda
    • World Social Work Day
  • Shop
  • Contact