MALAWI g) The name, the address, the telephone number and the working hours of the respective institution? h) The contact details of public officials? i) A mechanism to request and receive a response to electronic messages and requests for information? Total Score: 0/20 Category 2- Requests for Information The questions which were sent to the Ministry of Health were as follows: 1. What types of outbreaks are common in Malawi? 2. During outbreaks mentioned in Q1 above; do you see the media playing any critical role to mitigate the outbreaks? 3. If yes, how does that help Malawians and the ministry? Give at least two reasons? 4. Does the Ministry of Health have specific ways of giving out information about outbreaks? If yes list down these approaches/ways. 5. Which way mentioned in Q4 above is most effective or mostly used when giving out information about outbreaks? And why? 6. What are some of the challenges that the Ministry of Health faces when giving out information about outbreaks? 7. Do you have any possible solutions put in place to solve these challenges (mentioned in Q6)? 8. Would you provide MISA Malawi with the Ministry’s policies and budget structures Part 1: Requests for written information n = 20 Yes Additional Information No • 1.Is there an official designated to take and respond to information requests? (Please state title of officials in ‘Additional Information’) The Public Relations Officer (PRO) 2. Did the institution reply within 21 days? (If less than 7 please state in ‘Additional Information’) • 3. Did the Institution respond to a request for information? • 4. Does the authority publish its procedures for dealing with information requests? • 5. Did the institution provide all of the information requested? (If partially please mark ‘No’, indicate in ‘Additional Information’ how much of the information requested was supplied) • 6. Did the institution provide written reasons for the refusal of information? (If information was not refused, please contact the institution to find out what the policy is in this regard –if the institution supplies written reasons for refusal mark ‘Yes’) • 7. Did the institution disclose information about its operations, budgets, structure etc. • 8. Did the authority provide information without questioning the aims and motivations of the applicant? • 9. Did the institution acknowledge your request for information within 7 days? • 10. Was the information received clear and understandable? • The institution did not respond to the request for information. There is no policy directing the request of information. Total Score: 2/20 Part 2: Oral request for information n = 20 1. Is there an official designated to take and respond to information requests? (Please state title of officials in ‘Additional Information’) Yes No Additional Information • We talked to the person at the switchboard, the person responsible is called the Public Relations Officer. 2. Did the institution reply within 21 days? (If less than 7 please state in ‘Additional Information’) • 3. Did the institution respond to your oral request for information? • 4. Did the person dealing with your request have a friendly and helpful attitude? • 5. Did officials provide reasonable advice and assistance when seeking information • We were being referred from one person to another and we did not get a response. 33