Japanese Ambassador visits CoM

Japanese Ambassador Kae Yanagisawa on Friday visited College of Medicine (CoM) in Blantyre to strengthen the partnership between the institution and her country.

Speaking during the visit, Yanagisawa said her government was also looking at ways in which it can assist the college, especially in human resource and capacity building.

She said the Japanese government also intends to support the college in training the students through increased scholarships, short visits and exchange programmes.

In his remarks, CoM vice-principal Macpherson Mallewa hailed the Japanese government for the support it renders to the college.

“The Japanese government has been supporting the college in many ways and we are thankful. We hope that the visit by the Ambassador will help strengthen our partnership and that through the visit the Ambassador has identified crucial areas where they can come in to assist more,” he said.

Mallewa outlined some of the challenges the college is facing, including poor funding, lack of teaching space and accommodation for students.

The Japanese Ambassador also visited the paediatric ward at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital. CoM is a constituent college of the University of Malawi alongside, The Polytechnic, Chancellor Collge and Kamuzu College of Nursing. n