Balaka DHO receives epilepsy drugs
People living with epilepsy in Balaka have all the reason to smile after Sue Ryder Foundation in Malawi (SRFIM) on Friday donated phenobarbitone drugs for epileptic patients at the hospital.
Speaking during the donation, SRFIM finance and administration manager Norman Chindiwo said they decided to donate the drugs considering the cordial relationship his organisation has enjoyed with the district hospital since its inception in 1990.
“We have donated 166 jars of phenobarbitone drugs worth about K1 million to Balaka District Hospital for epilepsy cases. We believe this donation will make some difference in epilepsy clients’ lives,” he said.
He further said SRFIM has been complementing government’s efforts in taking the clinic to inaccessible areas to improve access to health services on epilepsy, asthma, tuberculosis, malaria and holding physiotherapy sessions for various disabilities.
Balaka district health officer Eugene Katenga Kaunda said the donation was timely because his office has been experiencing various challenges in sourcing anti-epilepsy drugs at the Central Medical Stores Trust.
“We appreciate the effort to assist government manage non-communicable diseases such as asthma and epilepsy which SRFIM was involved in for free in rural areas since 1990 until December 2018 when it stopped due to other reasons,” he said.
SRFIM is an offshoot of Sue Ryder UK, a humanitarian organisation working towards easing human suffering.
