* Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death, particularly cancers of the oesophagus and cervix
* This centre is an arsenal against cancer — it represents not just infrastructure, but the hope and determination of the Malawian people
By Tabbu Kitta Kauye, MANA
President Lazarus Chakwera has described the National Cancer Centre (NCC) — Malawi’s first-ever public facility of its kind — as a modern development that promises to transform cancer care in the country that will significantly reduce the need for patients to seek treatment abroad.
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Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Lilongwe today, President Chakwera called the centre a game changer in Malawi’s fight against cancer, which remains one of the leading causes of death, particularly cancers of the oesophagus and cervix.
“This centre is an arsenal against cancer,” he said. “It represents not just infrastructure, but the hope and determination of the Malawian people.”
Chakwera noted that the successful completion of the NCC was made possible through strong collaborative efforts with international partners: “We could not have done it without the generosity and technical support of the International Atomic Energy Agency, our partners the Government of India, and our cancer specialists who have lobbied government after government to develop this national cancer treatment centre.
“Above all, we could not have done it without God and the fighting spirit of the Malawian people,” he said of the centre that has been equipped with six radiotherapy bunkers, three of which already have advanced machines installed, designed to treat up to 100 patients per day.
Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda welcomed the development as a milestone for Malawi’s public health sector — noting that the country has long struggled with limited access to cancer care, with many patients previously forced to join long waiting lists for treatment outside the country due to the absence of specialized local facilities.
Representing the Indian government, High Commissioner Dr. Subbiah Gopalakrishnan reaffirmed the strong partnership between India and Malawi, particularly in the health sector.
He stated that the Indian government will support the centre not only through training but also in maintaining the installed machines for two years: “This centre is rooted in the philosophy of ‘One Nation, One Health’ — it shows what we can achieve when we work together.”
Gipalakrishnan making his statement.—Pictures by Patricia Kapulula, MANA
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, who also played a crucial role in equipping the centre with world-class technology, emphasised their commitment to ensuring that Malawians from all districts have access to the same level of care that is available internationally.
Member of Parliament for Lilongwe City West and a cancer survivor, George Zulu, shared a heartfelt testimony during the event — encouraging patients not to lose hope: “I was cured of lymphoma, this centre offers that same hope to many others.”
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President Chakwera concluded the event with a powerful call for unity, hard work, and integrity in national development.
“Poverty should not multiply poverty through corruption,” he said. “We need to act instead of waiting. Malawi is lucky to have this facility, but we must work together to ensure it serves all who need it. No one will develop our country for us but us.”
He reaffirmed that the opening of the NCC is just the beginning and pledged to ensure that more areas across Malawi benefit from such investments in healthcare.
Currently, the centre hosts 80 beds and has already admitted more than 100 patients. Outpatient services have reached over 2,000 patients annually, including over 200 children.
