Illovo Sugar (Malawi) plc has donated personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies worth K40 million to Nkhotakota District Hospital.
The company made the donation in response to President Lazarus Chakwera’s request in January this year for well-wishers to join the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking on Monday at the hospital during the handover, Illovo Sugar Dwangwa general manager Jerry Ndhlovu said part of the money was also used to construct the hospital’s pharmacy which got burnt last year.
“We understand the challenges hospitals are facing in terms of resources; hence, the donation,” he said.
On his part, Nkhotakota district commissioner Blessings Nkhoma commended Illovo Sugar for the donation.
“The equipment will lessen the challenges the hospital is facing in the fight against Covid-19,” he said.
Nkhotakota District medical officer Jacob Kafulafula said as of Monday, the district had registered 347 Covid-19 positive cases and six deaths since the country reported its first three cases in April last year.
The items included oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders, N7O ventilators, blood pressure machine, blood pressure suction machine, nebulisers, infrared thermometers, incubation, bed sheets and pulse oximeters.
Illovo Sugar has so far donated PPE worth K20 million to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre and another lot worth K40 million to Kasinthula Covid-19 Isolation Centre in Chikwawa.
Meanwhile, Nkhotakota District Council continues to enforce public health guidelines meant to reduce the further spread of Covid-19.
