MALAWI: Save the Children Donates Covid-19 Isolation Centre to Pirimiti Hospital
By Mastone Peter
Save the Children Malawi says it appreciates the role faith-based institutions play to support Government in the provision of quality health-care services in the country.
Save the Children Country Director for Malawi, Mr Kim Koch, was speaking at Pirimiti Hospital when the organization was handing over a Covid-19 Isolation Centre to the hospital which is under Zomba Diocese of the Catholic Church.
Koch said that although her organization is child-centred, it also works with partners like churches to address a number of issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Though Covid-19 cases are dropping in the country, we still need to continue adhering to the preventive measures and create space such as isolation wards,” continued Koch.
According to Koch, Save the Children is also distributing Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and infection prevention materials such as chlorine and many more.
Additionally, the Country Director revealed that her organization is working with Community-based Victim Support Units to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV) which are reported to be on the increase due to the pandemic.
Speaking after receiving the donation, Bishop of Zomba Diocese, Rt. Rev. George Desmond Tambala, thanked Save the Children and all other Partners who have contributed towards the refurbishment of the Centre, saying that it will help Covid-19 patients receive proper care and support in times of need.
“Initially, the hospital did not have any place where it could put Covid-19 patients but the refurbishment of this Isolation Centre has bailed us out. After the pandemic, the hospital will still be using the centre because we need more space to accommodate patients with different diseases,” added Bishop Tambala.
The Bishop also appealed to other well-wishers to come in and assist with furniture and other necessarily materials to enable the Isolation Centre function properly.
The Bishop then urged Pirimiti Hospital Management and Staff to continue taking care of the building so that it can remain useful and live longer.
Speaking at the same function, the District Commissioner for Zomba, Dr. Smart Gwedemula, asked all partners in the district to emulate the good gesture shown by Save the Children to ensure that they actively participate in the fight against the pandemic.
Save the Children and other partners have refurbished the isolation centre, drilled a borehole and erected a water tank at Pirimiti Hospital to a tune of thirty Million Malawi kwacha (about US$40, 000).
