Foundation opens clinic at KCH

A haemophilia clinic has been opened at the Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe with support from the Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation Project from Scotland.

The clinic, which will help to reduce loss of blood, was officially opened on Friday by Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, the minister said Malawi would for the first time diagnose and treat bleeding disorders which affect 1 700 people nationwide.

“Haemophilia is a rare disease, however, that does not make it less important. Patients with haemophilia deserve appropriate care and support,” said Kumpalume.

He said since Malawi has three levels of healthcare namely primary, secondary and tertiary, KCH remains a referral facility that provides comprehensive tertiary level healthcare.

Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation project manager, Shady Sedhom, said his organisation thought of collaborating with the College of Medicine’s haematologist, Yohane Mlombe, to establish the clinic to help patients with haemophilia and to create awareness.

“We came up with a plan to establish the clinic here at Kamuzu Central Hospital and bring the diagnosis machine to Malawi to provide healthcare support to patients with bleeding disorders,” he said.

According to Sedhom, there are plans to open other haemophilia clinics at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre and Mzuzu Central Hospital.

Haemophilia is a hereditary disease characterised by bleeding disorders and it is common in males. n