Katandula: This contribution signifies our firm commitment to contribute to the fight against the virus
* To be used for rehabilitation of Nkhotakota and Chikwawa isolation centres
* Response to State of National Disaster declared by President Chakwera
* There is huge response by the private citizenry at district levels pooling up resources together
* As of Wednesday, Malawi registered 830 new COVID-19 cases
* 244 are new recoveries and 15 new related deaths
By Duncan Mlanjira
Illovo Sugar (Malawi) plc has committed K100 million towards the rehabilitation of COVID-19 isolation centres for Nkhotakota District Hospital and Chikwawa Kasinthula in response to the State of National Disaster declared by President Lazarus Chakwera on January 12, 2021.
A statement from Illovo Sugar says the funds will also be used to purchase emergency medical equipment such as hospital beds, oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders, patient monitors amongst other needed items to be supplied to district hospitals of Chikwawa and Nkhotakota as well as Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.
Illovo Sugar plant at Nchalo, Chikwawa
Illovo Managing Director Lekani Katandula is quoted as saying: “Following the appeal for assistance to the private sector by the state President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, Illovo — as an important player in the economy — felt obliged to respond positively.
“Our response to the State President’s appeal is in addition to our own ongoing internal campaign tagged ‘COVID-19: It’s In Our Hands’ — which was launched in April, 2020.
President Chakwera declared State of National
Disaster
“Through this campaign, Illovo has distributed over 100,000 masks to employees, their dependents and communities surrounding our estates.”
This contribution, says Katandula, “confirms our firm commitment to join the government in its efforts to contain the further spread of the virus in the country.
“We hope that our contribution as well as those of many others from the private sector will in some way help to ease the financial burden which the government is facing in its efforts to fight this pandemic.”
Advertising
In the first wave of the pandemic, Illovo contributed K70 million that was spent in providing support to medical personnel and district hospitals in Chikwawa, Dwangwa and Blantyre.
Illovo also supported Blantyre City Council with COVID-19 awareness materials.
Meanwhile, the citizenry is positively responding in pooling resources together to procure essential medical supplies for the hospitals of the district they come — joining nationwide private citizens intervention currently trending.
Most district hospitals lack essential medical equipment and taking cognizance of this, the patriots in each and every district have initiated their own fundraising campaigns in conjunction with their DHOs.
Coronavirus alert
In the past 24 hours of Wednesday, Malawi registered 830 new COVID-19 cases, 244 new recoveries and 15 new related deaths.
This brings the number of active cases at 13,646; recoveries at 7,249 and 555 related deaths with case fatality rate is at 2.6%.
All new cases are locally transmitted with Blantyre having the highest at 313 followed by Lilongwe at 114.
Four of the related deaths are from Blantyre, two each from Kasungu, Mzimba North and Mzimba South, and one each from Karonga, Thyolo, Mchinji, Balaka, and Mulanje districts.
A total of 341 active cases are admitted in over 20 hospitals across the country with the highest at 126 in Lilongwe; 101 in Blantyre at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, 17 in Mzimba North, 16 in Zomba and 10 in Mulanje.
Coronavirus alert
Co-chairperson of the presidential task force on COVID-19, Dr. John Phuka keeps reminding the public to seek care early when one suspects COVID-19 symptoms and when they develop severe symptoms when one is confirmed COVID-19 positive.
“We have noticed there is general late seeking behavior among us whereby patients are arriving in our treatment units while in severe state or pronounced dead on arrival.
“We need to report early for good treatment outcomes. For those that
have severe form of the disease, please do not treat yourselves at home,” he said.
Coronavirus alert