PIL gives Mzimba Hospital K5m medical equipment

The country’s major petroleum importer, Petroleum Importers Limited (PIL)has donated a K5 million worth consignment of assorted medical equipment to Mzimba District Hospital.

It was double luck for the hospital within a space of a year as it was also the principle recipient of Nation Publications Limited (NPL)’s Mother’s Fun Run initiative in October last year.

The donated items include five Pulse Oximeters, a parameter monitor, two sanction machines, three delivery beds  and some child weight and adult bathroom scales; among others.

Presenting the donation, PIL general manager Enwell Kadango said his company was compelled to help out Mzimba for, apart from it being one of the largest districts in size in the country, as a way of encouraging it to
innovate and find more effective ways to deliver quality health care in the district.

Kadango cited the institution’s “good reputation in cleanliness, efficiency of its staff as well as scooping some accolades as an institution in the recent past” as key to their decision.

He also hinted that only a deeper cooperation between the private sector and government can help in improving and promoting the health and well-being of the people of this country.

“The fact that the population in the country in general continues to rise steadily, the demand for healthcare delivery services also increases with time.

“This therefore calls for more concerted efforts and stronger partnerships to ensure a sustainable supply of healthcare delivery services in the country. Our donation today is one way of ensuring healthy lives and
promoting wellbeing for all at all ages in the country including women and children who are the most vulnerable.” Kadango explained.

Mzimba [South] District Health Officer Lumbani Munthali thanked PIL for the gesture, saying it could not have come at a better time.

Said Muthali, “This is commendable and we are very grateful for the gesture which we feel will help address the existing gaps in our efforts to improve health care service in the district. Most importantly, the
equipment is going to help us improve maternal health. ”

Mzimba becomes the fifth and last recipient hospital in the company’s 2017 corporate social responsibilities plans after similar gestures in Chikwawa, Ntchisi, Dedza and Thyolo.

The district hospital has an immediate catchment area of 105,000, but also covers a total district population of 688,000 in referrals from across its total number of 31 health centres.