By Andrew Mkonda

Lilongwe, February 8, Mana:  First Lady Monica Chakwera has underscored the need for government and development partners to join hands in providing modern equipment to health facilities across the country.

Madame Chakwera made the call Thursday at Kabudula Community Hospital in Lilongwe after donating various medical equipment.

The donated items included beds, office desks, wheel chairs, buckets, blood pressure monitors, and Likuni phala among others.

The First Lady, who was accompanied by Former Vice President of Liberia Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor, said the government, led by President Lazarus Chakwera, is committed to improve the living standard of the people by, among other things, making sure people, more especially in rural areas, have access to good health service delivery.

“I am very thankful that today I can make this donation from our well-wishers. This donation is in line with Malawi Vision 2063 enabler number 5 which talks about human capital development through improvement of the well-being of the people in the country,” she said.

In his remarks, Deputy Minister of Health Halima Daud said government is committed to improve health service delivery in the country by, among other things, constructing new hospitals and rehabilitating all old facilities.

Daud then disclosed that the country will soon have its cancer centre in Lilongwe which she said will serve a number of lives who could not manage to get such services outside the country.

Member of Parliament for Lilongwe North West Mphatso Boti thanked the First Lady for the donation, saying it will go a long way in assisting the rural masses at the facility.

Boti, however, asked government to expand the Kabudula Community Hospital to a rural hospital, saying it is serving a number of people not only around Kabudula, but also patients from Dowa, Santhe and Kasungu.

“Your Excellency, this hospital looks small in appearance, but numerically it is serving almost 56,000 people from this area.

“Additionally, this hospital is also a referral of some health centres but it has only two ambulances and 48 health personnel, hence a need for expansion,” he said.

Lilongwe Director of Health and Social Services Dr. Wilson Ching’ani thanked the timely donation and assured government that the donated items will be used for the intended purpose.

However, Chin’gani said inadequate staff in many health facilities remains a very big challenge that retards the efforts of providing good health services delivery.