Malawi’s health community, led by Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Kuhes), Friday paid their last respects to the late Professor Robin Broadhead.
A renowned paediatrician and educator, Broadhead once served as principal of the then College of Medicine.
Broadhead was a British national but lived in Malawi since 1991, serving the country in various capacities as a health professional.
He died on April 19 aged 83 in Newlands, Blantyre.
Speaking during the funeral ceremony at Kuhes Sports Complex, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Macpherson Mallewa, described Broadhead as a selfless mentor who gave so much for the wellness of people in this country and beyond.
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“I am what I am today because of him,” he said. “In all aspects be it professional and personal he shaped many of us.”
Mallewa said Broadhead was one of the first 15 academic members of staff to be appointed by the University of Malawi to start clinical training of the first lot of medical students who had returned from basic medical sciences and early clinical training abroad.
“And I was one of them. Working with him and learning from him was a life changing experience,” Mallewa said.
According to Mallewa, during his tenure as principal for the college for two terms of office from 2001 to 2010, Broadhead got funding from the Norwegian Embassy.
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That funding led to the building of the Sports Complex, John Chiphangwi Learning Resource Centre and the Chimutu Building.
“These buildings changed the face of the then College of Medicine.
“The building called Chimutu is named after Professor Broadhead. Chimutu is Chichewa name for Broadhead,” he said.
Medison Matchaya, Deputy Director General for Zomba Mental Hospital, spoke profoundly of his personal encounter with Broadhead who he said adopted him as his son at a tender age and funded his education from secondary school.
“I thought I was ready to speak but this place without him brings a lot of memories. He was not just a professor of paediatrics or an administrator and a leader as many of us knew him.
“To me, Robin was a rare embodiment of selflessness, humility and affability given to mankind and Malawi in particular.
“He pushed the welfare of others above his own, unapologetically. He saw the untapped potential in the downtrodden, unused capabilities in the society and the wasted rare skills. He fought and demonstrated how to disrupt attitudes, motives and behaviours that succeed to widen the gap between the poor and rich, consequently leveling a playing field where human beings regardless of social status and exude their potential,” Matchaya said.
Speaking on behalf of family members, Lucinda- Manda Taylor said Broadhead would be missed for his exceptional ethical character.
“What a privilege of me and my family to have known Robin and today we gather here to honour and remember Robin.
“For us he was a man who was far more than a family friend. To me and I often told him that he was like my second father,” she said.
Aside from his medical profession, Broadhead was a keen painter and poet who introduced poetry reading at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) during his time as the Head of Paediatrics Department.
Among other dignitaries present at the ceremony were Deputy Minister of Education Francis Foley, Blantyre Deputy Mayor Gerald Lipikwe, Member of Parliament for Nsanje South West Constituency Walter Nyamilandu Manda and Kuhes council chairperson, Al Mtenje.
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Sera Chilora is a contributor
