Self Help Africa has donated personal protective equipment (PPE) worth K12 million to nine rural health centres in Chitipa to enhance their fight against the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The items include surgical masks, disposable gloves, hand sanitisers and infrared thermometers.
Speaking during the handover in Senior Chief Nthalire on Friday, Self Help Africa project coordinator Khwima Msiska said the intervention will create safer communities and health facilities.
He said: “We hope the donation will help to contain the disease which has resurfaced.
“Besides health centres, we have also donated PPE to farmers.”
In her remarks, Kavukuku Extension Planning Area community-based facilitator Grace Kayira commended Self Help Africa for the donation.
“As you are aware, one of the requirements for small gatherings is that people should wash hands and wear face masks. As a community, we have been struggling to access soap, so the donation has come at the right time,” she said.
Speaking in a separate interview, Chitipa district environmental health officer Sam Chirwa said the PPE will help to contain the disease in the district.
“Cumulatively, we have registered 66 Covid-19 positive cases out of whom 22 are health workers. Currently, the district has two active cases, both health workers,” he said.
Self Help Africa is implementing a Better Extension Transformation Economic Returns Project which seeks to enhance resilience, income, food and nutrition among smallholder farmers in Chitipa.
The project is supported by the European Union and is reaching out to farmers through Farmer Field Schools.
The items were procured with financial support from the Republic of Ireland.
