By Lyte Ali

Mangochi, August 11, Mana: Mangochi Police Women Network Friday donated assorted food and non-food items to patients in the Tuberculosis(TB), Nutrition and Pediatric ward at Mangochi District Hospital in a bid to ease the burden patients admitted to hospitals face.

The food and non-food items included 2 Kilogrammes (Kgs) of maize flour packets, tablets of soap, 2Kgs of packets of sugar, rice, cooking, soya pieces and peanut worthy K400, 000.

Speaking after handing over the items to hospital authorities, Chairperson for the Network, Inspector, Susan Musongole said the women decided to cheer the patients to demonstrate Police women’s responsibility over people in need.

“We have reached out to 20 patients with items such as maize flour, soya, rice, sugar and cooking oil among others,” she narrated.

Musongole observed that most people think that Police officers on duty are only to do with providing security and arresting criminals.  

“We are doing this to show people that although we are law enforcers but as human beings we also feel sorry when someone is sick that it is our duty to cheer patients at the hospital so that they know that they are not alone,” she added.   

The Network Chairperson urged other well-wishers to do the same, saying that the donation would only last few months hence the need for collective efforts people in need of support.

In-charge for Nutrition and Psychiatric Ward at the hospital, Nurse Midwife, Florence Chidyaonga said the donation was timely, adding that the food and non-food items would assist the patients to meet their daily needs.

She commended the Police women network for reaching out to the patients with the items saying the hospital only provide food to patients twice a day other than four times a day

“The hospital struggles to provide balanced meals to patients, For example, patients only receive two meals a day which is not a balanced diet especially for those taking medication that need speech diet. Due to constraints, the hospital is unable to meet their nutritional needs,”  Chidyaonga said.

She appealed to all well-wishers, organization and individuals to emulate what the Police women have done citing that any assistance would make the patients recover faster.

Mangochi Police Women Network was established in 2014 with an aim to promoting women's empowerment and gender equality within the Malawi Police Service.

In addition to their primary goal, the Network has made a significant impact through various charitable initiatives, organizing activities and events as a team to support the community.