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Press Trust donates K10m towards MFR

In its efforts to help solve maternal health challenges in the country, Press Trust has donated K10 million towards Mother’s Fun Run (MFR).

MFR is an initiative by Nation Publications Limited (NPL) where funds are raised towards addressing maternal challenges in a particular district each year. For the first time, this year, MFR is targeting two district hospitals of Likoma and Ntcheu.

Mbumba Banda (R) symbolically receives the cheque from Radson Mwadiwa as Gibson Ngalamila (L) looks on

But the trust has said its support should be channelled to Ntcheu District Hospital.

Trustee Radson Mwadiwa, who officially handed over the cheque to NPL, said the trust is proud to have been a partner of MFR since its inception 14 years ago.

Mwadiwa further said while partners such as Press Trust and NPL support in areas such as health sector, it is quite disheartening to note that some of the donated equipment get destroyed because of poor maintenance.

He, therefore, urged NPL to pass on the message to government that such equipment needs good care to ensure its longevity.

Said Mwadiwa: “My appeal to NPL is that it passes on the message to government that this equipment needs to be adequately maintained. Over time, we have come to realise that some of the equipment needs just a small maintenance and yet it is thrown away and they expect partners to come in and support the same area instead of moving to other areas.”

In her remarks, NPL chief executive officer Mbumba Banda was thankful for support being rendered to MFR by stakeholders such as the Press Trust.

She further said MFR believes in collaborative efforts, hence; cherishing its relationship with Press Trust.

Said Banda: “We have actually seen that a lot of organisations are coming in and staying and more often they are following an example of an organisation they respect such as Press Trust.”

Mwadiwa revealed that as a way of reducing maternal deaths and improving health delivery in the country in the next five years as it implements its strategic plan, they will allocate more resources in the health and education sectors.

According to him the trust is already working closely with the Ministry of Health to rehabilitate and expand some of the health facilities.

Said Mwadiwa, “Recently Press Trust has constructed and fully furnished and will soon be handing over two maternity wings in Karonga and Dedza apart from constructing other health facilities in Mzuzu, Salima and Lilongwe.”

According to him these are just some of the initiatives the trust has undertaken in the health sector some of which are constructions of numerous health facilities and donations of medical equipments and drugs.

He further revealed that for over the past 22 years, the trust has channelled close to 40 percent of its resources towards the health sector alone. n

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