By Sheminah Nkhoma

Lilongwe, August 21, MANA: United Nation Childrens Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the United States of America and Germany government on Monday donated assorted medical equipment to the Ministry of Health.

Speaking in Lilongwe, during the handover ceremony, UNICEF Representative to Malawi, Shadrack Omol said Malawi has for years faced numerous health challenges from significant gaps in the work force due to frequent shortages in essential medical supplies.

“As UNICEF we want to reach every child in the rural and remote areas because when health emergencies like Covid-19 or outbreaks such as Cholera arise it is difficult for Health Surveillance Assistant (HSA) to work due to shortages of medical equipment,

"As such we have donated community health, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) and Screening and Immunization supplies,” he said.

Receiving the donation Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda acknowledged UNICEF for the kind gesture adding that the donation has come in good time as the ministry is conducting polio and cholera campaigns.

“We appreciate for the support that UNICEF has done by donating equipment worth 14 million USD, as Ministry of health we will make sure that all the donation has worked for the intended purpose in the community, so that we can improve our health sector”, She said,

The donation includes three refrigerated vans, 280 vaccine refrigerators,100 cold boxes,6000 vaccine carriers, 100,000 water packs, 700 push bicycles, 11,000 Gumboots, 11,000 Back packs, 11,000 Rain courts, 350 Phone tablets, 12,300 Glucometers and 12,300 BP machines.