By Agatha Kadzinje

Blantyre, November 7, Mana: Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) has praised the Muslim Youth United (MYU) weekly feeding programme, which provides meals and hygiene supplies to 1,200 patients every Wednesday.

The programme, which was established in 2019, provides packets of Chiponde (RUTF), Likuni Phala, cooking oil, milk, maize flour, soya pieces and eggs and has proved essential in meeting critical nutritional needs for patients and alleviating some of the hospital’s resource challenges.

QECH Hospital Administrator, Sipho Nyasulu, told Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Wednesday that the collaboration with MYU has been vital since the programme began.

“This initiative bridges the nutrition gap for our patients. We work hand-in-hand with MYU to identify beneficiaries and ensure resources are distributed effectively,” Nyasulu said.

He said their role in the project is more than just receiving donation but also overseeing that these resources truly reach those in need.

According to Nyasulu, the programme initially targeted only two wards; pediatrics and orthopedics, but now covers most of the wards.

"When the programme was launched, it was limited in scope, but it has since expanded, helping us support a broader range of patients,” he said.

He said the hospital still struggles to meet the dietary requirements of patients with specific illnesses that call for high-protein or therapeutic meals.

"Certain patients require special meals tailored to their illnesses, which are costly. We rely on feeding programmes like these to bridge the gap as the demand far exceeds our capacity to supply," he said.

Nyasulu called on stakeholders and well-wishers to step in and support specialized nutritional needs programmes saying while government supports them, demand is still high for them to meet it alone.

In a separate interview, MYU Feeding Programme Coordinator Wadson Banda said the programme has been impactful, aligning with Islamic values of helping the needy and the sick.

 "Our Prophet Muhammad encourages us to always assist those in need, especially the sick. This feeding programme helps us fulfill that duty," Banda said.

He explained that since its launch in 2019, the programme has evolved to address immediate needs.

In addition to food, MYU provides hygiene supplies to improve hospital conditions and prevent illnesses.

He said the initiative has also fostered personal and spiritual growth among MYU youth volunteers who engage directly with patients during their visits.

Banda encouraged Muslims across Malawi to establish similar feeding programmes at hospitals nationwide.

QECH receives support amounting to K3 million every six months and K25 million per year from the initiative.