On 15th March, the Communications and Public Engagement team of the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme (MLW) organised a drone demonstration in Ndirande township to exhibit the capabilities of MLW’s surveillance drone. The event attracted a significant crowd eager to witness the demonstration firsthand.

Concerns were raised on social media by Neppier Longwe, a prominent artist from Ndirande, known as Nepman, regarding potential privacy infringements by the drones. In response, MLW took the step to engage with the community and address these concerns.

During the demonstration, the drone pilot, Patrick Kalonde, assured the gathered audience that the drone was programmed solely for mapping purposes, such as identifying areas with high waste accumulation and delineating health facility catchment areas. Attendees were given the opportunity to view real-time images captured by the drone, further solidifying transparency in MLW’s operations.

Longwe himself participated in the event and commended MLW for their transparency and efforts to address community concerns. “Initially, we were fearful about our privacy, but now we are reassured by the institution’s transparency,” remarked Longwe.

Yamikani Dickson, the coordinator for MLW’s community engagement team, highlighted the importance of transparency and engagement in strengthening community trust. “The event will strengthen the trust that the community has in the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme,” Dickson stated.

Overall, the drone demonstration not only showcased MLW’s commitment to community engagement but also fostered trust and transparency in their operations, paving the way for future collaborations.