By Sellah Singini

Lilongwe, March 12, Mana: The embassy of Japan in Malawi has signed a K60 million grant with Zomba Police College Hospital for the importation of an ambulance to support the delivery of emergency health services in Zomba.

Speaking after the signing ceremony in Lilongwe on Tuesday, Ambassador of Japan to Malawi, Yoichi OYA, said although Zomba Police College Hospital makes a lot of efforts to provide quality health services to police officers as well as to the people of Zomba lack of an ambulance prevents the hospital from dealing with urgent needs.

He said the hospital is unable to cope with sudden changes in conditions, especially for pregnant women and critically injured patients, because it is using general vehicles to transport patients.

“Our development cooperation policy emphasizes the importance of human security, investment in people and human dignity. Japan has demonstrated its commitment to achieving universal health coverage in Africa as committed at TICAD 8 held in Tunisia in 2022. Japan is fully committed to assist Malawi to achieve the goals outlined in MW2063,” he said.

OYA strongly hopes that the provision of an ambulance will contribute to the provision of quality health services to police officers as well as Zomba residents.

He, therefore, urged the hospital to provide required care and maintenance for the ambulance.

The project is funded by the government of Japan under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects.

Deputy Inspector General of the Malawi Police Service, Happy Mkandawire, said the grant has come at the right time saying it will ease mobility challenges the hospital experiences in ferrying patients to Zomba Central Hospital.

“Let me express our profound gratitude to the government of Japan for their timely response at a time the hospital is in dire need of an ambulance. The ambulance will ease mobility challenges in ferrying patients in need of tertiary level health care. This will help in reduction of complications and preventable deaths that occur due to delays in ferrying patients to referral hospitals,” Mkandawire said.

He, therefore, assured the ambassador that the hospital will take all necessary measures in ensuring that the ambulance is put to good use.

Zomba Police College Hospital has a total catchment area of approximately 3,181 and offers health services to an average of 4,000 clients from the nearby surrounding community per month.