Health minister warns on handling of donations
Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo-Chiponda says Malawi has been heavily affected by Covid-19 and that those misusing medicines will be sternly dealt with.
The minister said this in Lilongwe on Thursday when she received a consignment of essential medicines worth over K1.5 billion donated by the people and Government of India.
Said Chiponda: “Let me direct healthcare workers to their duty of ensuring that these medicines and any other donations are put to their intended use. Any theft or diversions shall not be tolerated and the Pharmacy and Medicines Act of 2019 will take its course.”
The minister said apart from essential medicines for routine conditions, the donation also comprised medications for managing underlying conditions such as HIV and diabetes, which worsen the illness of Covid-19 patients.
On his part, India High Commissioner Anurag Bushan said the handover followed a pledge by the India’s Vice-President Venkai Naidu during his visit to Malawi in November 2018.
He said: “Our dialogue must continue across politics, economy and public health and India is ready to offer any assistance. For instance, India is sending to Malawi Covid-19 related items in September.”
Bushan said India recently donated 550 artificial limbs to Malawians through a prosthetics camp held between November and December last year; 100 000 secondary school level textbooks; 10 ambulances handed over in February and a cancer therapy machine.
