Madinga (right) hands over the high-tech equipment to the refurbished HDU to Deputy Health Minister Chimpeni
* As a responsible corporate citizen, we recognise the importance of investing in healthcare infrastructure, particularly for mothers and babies
* This maternity wing will provide a safe and comfortable environment for women to give birth and receive essential medical care
By Duncan Mlanjira
When Standard Bank handed over the refurbished and extended Zomba Central Hospital’s maternity high dependency unit (HDU) today, Chief Executive, Phillip Madinga said the K210 million project “is testament to the bank’s commitment to supporting the communities it serves by prioritising their health care needs”.
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The extensively refurbished the HDU and extended it to six beds from two; invested into it high-tech antenatal scanning equipment and added beautifully crafted ambience — and Madinga said: “As a responsible corporate citizen, we recognise the importance of investing in healthcare infrastructure, particularly for mothers and babies.
“This maternity wing will provide a safe and comfortable environment for women to give birth and receive essential medical care.”
He added that the bank strongly believes in forging partnerships with various stakeholders, and the Government being one of its key partners, saying through partnership with the Ministry of Health — that dates back many years in supporting various healthcare initiatives across the country — include:
1. Building maternity holding shelters for Dedza District Hospital and Mulanje District Hospital;
2. Providing feeding shelter and kitchen equipment at Chintheche Hospital in Nkhata Bay;
3. Purchasing maternity ward equipment for Makhwira Health Centre in Chikwawa and adopting it for sustainability;
4. Supporting the Children’s Cancer Ward’s Learning Centre at Kamuzu Central Hospital through the Standard Bank Be More Race initiative;
5. Providing financial assistance during pandemics such as CoVID-19 and providing emergency financial assistance during tropical cyclones;
6. Providing foodstuffs to different hospitals across the country through employee-driven initiatives.
He added that the maternity ward project is a continuation of Standard Bank’s efforts to drive growth in Malawi, and is firmly anchored in its brand purpose.
“We believe that by investing in healthcare, education, and other critical sectors, we can contribute to the country’s economic development and improve the lives of its people,” he said.
He added that Standard Bank’s contributions to the health sector are aligned to the MW 2063 national vision, “which prioritises healthcare infrastructure development, maternal health, and child health”.
“Over the years, our investment in healthcare infrastructure supports the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on health, particularly; MDG 4: reduce child mortality, and MDG 5: improve maternal health
“This project is also in line with our corporate social responsibility pillars, which highlight our commitment to investing in communities, promoting health and wellbeing, and supporting the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We are proud to support the government’s efforts to achieve the SDGs and the MW2063 vision for a better Malawi,” he said, pledging that the bank “will continue working together with Zomba Central Hospital to support the health needs of people of Zomba and Eastern Region of Malawi.
“Apart from serving residents of Zomba, the central hospital is strategically placed to handle referrals from surrounding districts in the Eastern Region such as Phalombe, Machinga, Balaka and Mangochi.
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“Standard Bank has also ensured that apart from meeting the health needs of people in Zomba, our services at our Zomba branch satisfy your financial services requirements. We have recently refurbished the branch, making it more spacious and ambient to suit the dynamic needs of our customers.
“In addition, we will soon be introducing Private Banking services for our clientele in Zomba and the entire Eastern Region — an integral part of our customer centricity and service coverage approach.”
He thus thanked the hospital management and staff “for their tireless efforts in providing quality healthcare services to people of Zomba and surroinding communities”.
“We are proud to partner with you in this endeavour. Let us continue to work together to build a healthier, more prosperous, and inclusive Malawi for all, in line with the MW2063 vision.
The event was graced by Deputy Minister of Health, Noah Chimpeni; Mayor of City of Zomba, Councillor Christopher Jana, Zomba District Commissioner Reinghard Chavula, Senior Chief Chikowi among other high profile delegates.
In his remarks, Deputy Minister Chimpeni acknowledged that the K210 million investment demonstrates the bank’s exceptional workmanship and quality — describing it as “a powerful and elaborate example of the desirable impact of the public private partnership (PPP) that Government promotes”.
Chimpeni highlighted that the Ministry’s Health Sector Strategic Plan III, among several others issues, “advocates for the provision of quality healthcare to all that includes high quality maternity services”.
