Press Trust on Friday donated K2.4 million towards this year’s Mothers’ Fun Run event which is mobilising resources to help Mchinji District Hospital.
Mothers’ Fun Run, which is the brainchild of Nation Publications Limited (NPL)—publishers of Fuko, The Nation, Weekend Nation, Nation on Sunday and Nation Online—is an annual event which mobilises funds to buy equipment for a particular district hospital and its satellite clinics.
Press Trust, which is one of the major and long time sponsors of the event, said it will continue supporting the initiative because it is a good platform to interact with other organisations that are championing good health in the country.
Trust CEO Patrick Mhango
One of Press Trust’s trustees, George Kayambo, said government alone cannot meet the needs of mothers and children; hence, there is need for support from companies and organisations such as Press Trust.
Kayambo said: “Press Trust supports Mothers’ Fun Run mainly because of its ultimate objective of reducing maternal and child mortality in this country.”
Kayambo commended NPL for starting the Mother’s Fun Run in 2005 with the noble objective of helping to address some of the critical needs of mothers.
NPL Chief Executive Officer, Mbumba Banda, thanked Press Trust for the donation, saying it will help in changing the lives of mothers in Mchinji.
Banda said: “The NPL team is truly grateful for the support that Press Trust has been rendering over the years because we know that our efforts in providing much needed equipment and supplies to the public health institutions around the country need critical back-up and the support that Press Trust has shown over time.”
Recent estimates for Mchinji District indicate 300 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births while the national figure stands at 680 deaths per 100 000 live births.
“These are deaths which can be prevented with optimum care. This year Press Trust funds will go towards oxygen concentrators,” Banda said during a symbolic cheque presentation which took place in Lilongwe.
Press Trust’s support for Mothers’ Fun Run over the past eight years has totalled K20 million.
NPL targets a minimum of K2 million from the Mchinji half-marathon fundraiser.
Meanwhile, Press Trust has also donated K1 million to the Economists Association of Malawi (Ecama) for its conference to take place in Mangochi from November 12 to 13 this year.
