US hands over K1.3bn medical supplies, books
The United States of America has donated assorted medical equipment and supplies to Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) and books to Kamuzu College of Nursing (KCN), a constituent college of the University of Malawi.
Yesterday’s gift package, made through US Agency for International Development (USaid), is valued at $1.8 million (K1.3 billion).
The donation to KCH includes essential supplies for maternal and neonatal care, child health, family planning and malaria-oxygen concentrators, vacuum extractors and infant resuscitation kits. KCN, on the other hand, has received PhD textbooks.
Speaking during the official handover in Lilongwe, US Ambassador Virginia Palmer said she was delighted with her government’s contributions towards the improvement of Malawi’s health sector.
She said: “Today, we celebrate our shared commitment to improving health outcomes for Malawian citizens with the handover of medical equipment for practitioners in the field and textbooks for College of Nursing students who will become tomorrow’s healthcare leaders.”
Ministry of Health (MoH) Principal Secretary Dan Namarika, who received the donation on behalf of the Malawi Government, acknowledged the US government’s support to the health sector.
He said: “If I may say, the US government has been our biggest partner in the health sector and we don’t take that for granted.”
Namarika said besides the textbooks, the medical equipment would be distributed to 16 health facilities nationwide.
Some of the health workers to use the equipment will be health surveillance assistants and community nurses.
