College of Medicine donates beds to Bingu National Stadium isolation centre
Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda has implored the private sector to join hands with the government in the fight against the Covid pandemic.
She said this when College of Medicine (CoM) officials handed over beds worth K60 million to her ministry.
“The handover of the beds has come at the right time as we plan to turn Bingu National Stadium into the largest [Covid] isolation centre. Malawi does not take the donation for granted as it will help a lot, especially people suffering from Covid,” she said.
Malawi Health Care Support (Mahecas) UK and Medstrom Healthcare UK donated 1,025 beds and 781 mattresses to CoM in response to the University of Malawi constituent college’s fund-raising initiative.
Under the initiative, CoM officials were raising funds meant for use in the fight against the Covid pandemic.
“Mahecas works directly with healthcare institutions like College of Medicine healthcare officers, nurses and doctors in Malawi in identifying needed equipment or services for their hospitals or health centres,” said CoM acting Principal Mac Mallewa.
He said Mahecas UK works directly with people on the ground to ensure maximum impact of the assistance provided.
Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Charles Mwansambo said the organisation was registered in England and Wales in 1996.
He lauded it for its efforts in relieving sickness and preserving patients’ good health in hospitals, clinics, surgeries and other places where primary healthcare is provided in Malawi.
In December 2019, Mahecas Chairperson Prescott Kaliati handed over 600 beds and 200 mattresses, sourced from Medstrom, to the Ministry of Health at a function held at Bwaila Hospital in Lilongwe.
