Callista, NPL get Woda recognition
The 2012 Women of Distinction Award (Woda) has presented Malawi’s former First Lady Callista Mutharika with a certificate of thanks at a gala held at Ufulu Gardens in Lilongwe on Monday, where Nation Publications Limited (NPL) was also awarded.
Director of ceremonies Zilanie Nyundo said the certificate was in recognition of Callista’s contribution to Woda.
“Woda would like to recognise a special woman for her tremendous contribution to Woda and this is none other than the former first lady, Madame Callista Mutharika,†said Nyundo.
NPL was awarded for its annual Mother’s Day Fun Run Initiative, which is a corporate social responsibility where funds raised from the public are donated to a health institution’s maternity ward. NPL received a K145 000 cheque to purchase a bed and mattress to be donated to a hospital of its choice.
Elizabeth Lisuntha Banda, NPL’s editor for Nation Online, received the donation on behalf of chief executive officer Mbumba Achuthan.
“NPL chooses to celebrate this noble job every year, from 2005, through life-saving action by donating health-care utilities to maternity wards of carefully selected government-run hospitals and health centres. It is a noble job Nation Publications Limited takes seriously,†she said.
Since inception, the initiative has raised over K40 million.
“The money has been used to purchase essential maternal health-care items needed in public hospitals and health centres in all the three regions of the country. The items include incubators, drip stands, blood pressure machines, oxygen concentrators, beds, mattresses, resuscitators,†she said.
This year’s awards have gone to Zomba-based businessperson, Annie Fletcher, who won in the business category, Catherine Chipembere in charity, Chrissie Katundu in agriculture, Felicity Malewezi in science and technology, Dr. Maureen Chirwa in health while Kate Mkandawire won in the military category.
NPL has since put all the winners on a free one month subscription of its publication Nation on Sunday.
