Germany gives Malawi K369m for Covid-19 fight
Federal Republic of Germany yesterday handed over medical equipment worth K369 million to the Ministry of Health (MoH) to support the Covid-19 fight.
The donation, which comprises 60 oxygen concentrators and 5 000 pulse oximeters, comes amid increasing demand for oxygen and other treatment equipment in the country’s Covid-19 treatment centres.
Receiving the equipment, Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda said as of yesterday the country had 350 Covid-19 patients in treatment centres while 29 died on Wednesday alone.
She said: “We need such equipment a lot because we are at the peak of the third wave where we are registering more new cases going by the figures being recorded.”
The minister also acknowledged that the country needs donor support considering the cost of treating Covid-19 patients.
“In some cases, one patient uses three oxygen cylinders a day and one cylinder costs around a K100 000 minus other services so such kind of support is crucial,” said Chiponda.
However, the minister said government has already paid oxygen suppliers to enable hospitals refill each time quantities are going down to avoid stockouts experienced during the second wave.
On her part, head of German Development Cooperation Sabine Lindermann said the consignment augments the support that country is providing since April 2020 through its implementing agencies KfW and GIZ.
“Since the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic, German Development Cooperation has been assisting Malawi in both human and financial resources. We have also been giving direct support to the Ministry of Health Emergency Treatment Units in the central hospitals and some target districts,” she said.
Lindermann said Zomba Central Hospital will get 30 oxygen concentrators, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre will get 5, Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe will get 15 while Mzuzu Central Hospital will get 10.
