LL residents fix broken beds at KCH
Charity work at Kamuzu Central Hospital ended on a high note on Friday with a group of Lilongwe residents coming together to fix broken beds so that patients can comfortably sleep in them.
They did this using personal equipment and technical knowhow, including financial contributions from other Malawians both locally and abroad.
The initiative is the brainchild of Lilongwe-based Ted Kwelepeta. The proposal was shared on Facebook where it attracted a lot of feedback under the popular My Malawi My Views page.
Most Malawians expressed interest to help solve the challenge of broken beds that continues to limit space for patients at the referral facility.
However, during the actual repair work, only seven men and two women turned up to fix the beds.
“I shared my interest having seen the state of broken beds at KCH and how this has affected the bed space for the patients admitted to the hospital. I vowed to make my welding equipment and manpower available to fix these beds.
“I visited the hospital administration and was given permission to fix the beds. When I shared this idea on My Malawi My Views, many people responded with donations worth K120 000. The money was used to buy paint, turpentine, welding rods and red oxide while some was spent on transport,” Kwelepeta said.
KCH director Jonathan Ngoma commended members of the support group who had come to take part in the exercise.
“This started as a dream and now it is reality. Ted shared it with us. From that group there were a lot of people and lots of talk and comments. It is only those who are here who showed willingness to conceive the idea. Therefore let’s embrace the journey we have started,” Kenrinie Mukutu Chipamba, who contributed drinks and water to the team at the hospital, said in his reaction after the beds were fixed. n
