AMREF donates K8m medical supplies, equipment to MDH
African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) has donated assorted drugs and medical equipment to Mangochi District Hospital as one way of supporting the country’s initiative of reducing maternal and child mortality.
The supplies and equipment valued at K7 948 530 (US$19 529) included gentamycin, oxytocin, metronidazole, benzyl penicillin while the equipment comprised four patient trolleys, theatre monitor, oxygen concentrators and digital BP machines among others.
Speaking when she handed over the consignment, AMREF’s programme manager, Seminie Nyirenda said the organisation was making the donation in line with the ‘Stay Alive’ project which attempts to provide quality maternal and child health services.
Nyirenda said the three- year project covering both government and Christian Hospitals Association of Malawi health facilities is aimed at providing adequate maternal and child services.
“The project is being implemented under such strategies as advocacy for adequate services and resource allocation, improve access to safe post-abortion care and health infrastructure strengthening,” Nyirenda said.
Nyirenda pointed out that the Stay Alive project aims at contributing to millennium development goal number five which attempts to reduce maternal mortality by 75 percent and improve ante–natal care to reduce maternal complications.
“It is our hope that having handed over the drugs, supplies and equipment, the items will be distributed fairly to all facilities with priority to sites providing BEMOC, post-abortion care and those that are hard to reach,” Nyirenda emphasised.
“I hope this contribution from AMREF will complement and fill the existing gaps in the delivery of quality health services,” she added.
District health officer for Mangochi, Dr. Ethwako Mlia Phiri thanked AMREF for purchasing items which were relevant to the needs of the hospital.
“Most of the time we just receive donations without due consideration to our priorities,” Phiri said. “Shortage of drugs in terms of management of maternal and child cases will now be a thing of the past.”
She said the consignment was comprehensive in that it had covered a wide range of things including theatre drapes for sterilising equipment, improving care in very sick patients and monitoring vital signs.
Mlia Phiri disclosed that management of the hospital plans to turn Makanjira Health Centre into a rural or community hospital since it was one of the busiest facility in the district. She said deliberate efforts were being made to upgrade the facility to that status.
“On behalf of Mangochi District Health Management Team, I would like to express my gratitude to AMREF for this kind gesture and we would expect more of such donations to strengthen our partnership,” Phiri emphasised.
AMREF born in 1957 as an international health research-based non–governmental organisation of flying doctors with its headquarters in Kenya, strives to complement government in her efforts of improving health standards in the country. It draws its funding from the Netherlands.—Mana
