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Poly students raise funds for Ndirande Health Centre

 

Final year bachelors in built environment students from The Polytechnic, one of the constituent colleges of the University of Malawi, are seeking to raise K54 million for Ndirande Health Centre in Blantyre.

The students conducted a big walk on Saturday towards the construction of a maternity ward for Caesarian section patients at the health centre and also as part of the activities for the group’s symposium later this year.

In an interview, the symposium chairperson Zikomo Tukula described the big walk as a success, saying it was also a way of raising awareness about the project.

The students pose after the big walk

The big walk started from Queen Elizabeth Centre Hospital (QECH) via CI, Mibawa to Mandala and back to the hospital.

Said Tukula: “The event motivated us. Of course, we didn’t expect to raise the whole K54 million at once, but all in all, we are grateful because some companies came in during the big walk and they were interested in supporting the project.”

He said one of the companies, Plascon, pledged to paint the maternity ward after its construction at an estimated cost of K7.5 million.

The big walk, which generated K500 000 towards the project, was held under the theme: Building Malawi One block at a Time.

On her part, the symposium head of fundraising Chifundo Njowe said the students are also doing other activities such as designing architectural buildings as a way of raising money through their architectural department.

She said they chose Ndirande Health Centre because it is one of the highly populated areas in the city of Blantyre.

Based on the 2008 Population and Housing Census, Ndirande Township has a population of 28 000 women of child bearing age.  If the maternity wing is constructed, it may help reduce congestion at the referral QECH. n

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