Madonna to open paedriatric center
Pop star Madonna, is this afternoon expected to open the Mercy James Center for Paedriatric Surgery and Intensive Care at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi.
President Peter Mutharika will also be in attendance and is expected to preside over the opening of the children’s hospital built by Madonna, through her Raising Malawi Initiative.
The centre is named after Mercy James, the 11-year-old daughter adopted from Malawi in 2009.
An official from Raising Malawi who opted for anonymity, told the Nation Online crew that visited the place this morning that entry to the event is strictly by invitation.
“We are going to distribute arm bands for our invited guests. Not everyone will be allowed entry for security reasons,” he said.
Posting on her Twitter page, the singer said she was excited to see the opening of the centre.
Madonna said after two years of hard work and support from partners and donors from around the world, the centre is now set to open.
She thanked nurses, doctors, companies and construction foremen among others who she said have dedicated time, energy and effort to make the project a success.
She said the facility will be the country’s first and only paediatric surgery and intensive care unit.
According to Raising Malawi website to celebrate her birthday back in 2016, Madonna launched a fundraising campaign with Omaze, inviting her fans to help create a “Rebel Heart” playroom in the paediatric facility.
The new space is now ready to provide a calm, joyful space for the children to play and learn, which will help improve both their physical and emotional health.
Later that year, Madonna hosted a special event at Art Basel Miami to benefit Raising Malawi and the Mercy James Centre. Profits from the evening were used to fill the hospital with equipment, surgeons and medical personnel.
