NBM donates wheelchairs to Kachere

National Bank of Malawi (NBM) on Friday donated 50 wheelchairs worth K2.2 million (about $8 800) to Kachere Rehabilitation Centre in Blantyre as part of the bank’s social responsibility.

Speaking when he presented the wheelchairs, NBM chief executive officer George Partridge said the centre is doing a commendable job in helping physically challenged people in the country.

“When we have some little money, we always remember Kachere because there is so much good that you are doing here. You can recall that this is not our first time and definitely not our last. National Bank cares so much about the disabled that our designs take into consideration mobility of the physically challenged.

“We also realise that government cannot do everything and that is why we come in. We cannot continue to operate without our customers and these are our customers,” said Partridge.

Chairperson of the Malawi Against Physical Disability (MAP) fund-raising and publicity committee Sakker Sacranie thanked the bank for the donation.

She said the centre has been facing a shortage of wheelchairs, forcing patients to use them in turns.

“The patients you see here come in a weak state and to be able to move from the wards to the bathroom and the gym, wheelchairs are a necessity. Most of the time we have at least 38 to 40 patients. The donation of 50 wheelchairs, therefore, fits in the system.

“There are some patients here that were not released because there were no wheelchairs,” said Sacranie.