The World Health Organization (WHO) Malawi Country Office has handed over industrial electric cooking pots worthy over US$20 000 to Balaka District Hospital. The donation has been made following the fire that gutted the hospital’s kitchen, laundry and administration blocks in July 2020. WHO made the donation as part of its commitment to ensure that there is continuity of provision of health care service during health emergencies. The Deputy Minister of Health Honorable Chrissy Kalamula Kanyasho received the donation from WHO Representative for Malawi, Dr Nonhlanhla Dlamini on 17 August 2021 at a ceremony that took place at Balaka District Hospital.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, WHO Representative for Malawi, Dr Nonhlanhla Dlamini says it is the interest of WHO to ensure that there is continuity of essential health services at all levels.

 “With these modern pots, freshly prepared meals will be provided timely to our patients since good nutrition is paramount for their recovery.”

Honorable Deputy Minister of Health says Government recognizes the role that WHO is playing in Malawi in ensuring that hospitals are well equipped with minimum packages of services that are essential in provision of healthcare.

“We thank WHO for being the first partner that responded to the fire accident at Balaka District Hospital. Without a functioning kitchen, there is no food for patients. And any functioning hospital kitchen must have cooking pots. Patients who are hospitalized and not given food take long to be discharged. This extended bed occupancy does not only translate into additional costs to Government but also denies other deserving patients access to timely treatment if not lead to overcrowding in wards, which should be avoided.”

In addition, WHO has also donated IT equipment to the district hospital that includes 4 laptops, 1 printer and 1 photocopier, worth over 12 million Malawi Kwacha.

On a wider scale, WHO has been working with Malawi Government in supporting the COVID-19 response. The organization been part of the team to make sure that all the pillars in the response plan are supported in order to provide a concrete response to the COVID-19 pandemic including the introduction and administration of vaccines.