First Vice-President Jane Ansah on Mother’s Day visited patients at National Cancer Centre at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe and donated food items worth K15 million.
The items comprised maize flour, soya pieces, chicken, sausages and plastic plates.
Ansah, who battled cancer in 1986, said she chose to spend the day with the patients because she understood the difficulties associated with the disease and wanted to encourage them.
officials look on. | Esnart Tembo
“I feel for them, and I have seen women taking care of their loved ones here, which shows how strong mothers are,” she said.
The Second Citizen said the centre serves patients from across Malawi, some of whom travel long distances to access specialised care. She cited a mother who had travelled from Likoma Island with her child for treatment, saying such journeys highlighted the sacrifices families make to secure medical attention for their loved ones.
She urged patients to remain hopeful, pray and follow their treatment, drawing from her own experience.
Said Ansah: “President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika is committed to making sure that everyone is healthy, including women. Therefore, we are glad that patients are receiving good treatment here.”
She added that President Peter Mutharika was committed to ensuring that Malawians, including women, had access to healthcare.
Some patients who interacted with Ansah during the visit said they appreciated the care they received from doctors and nurses, adding that the support was helping them through treatment.
KCH director general Amos Msekandiana commended the First Vice-President for spending Mother’s Day with the patients, saying the gesture demonstrated concern for people going through difficult circumstances.
“We are grateful to the Vice-President for thinking of spending Mother’s Day with our patients. It is encouraging for them to have leaders visit and show concern for their welfare,” he said.
The visit comes as Malawi continues efforts to expand access to specialised cancer treatment locally and reduce dependence on costly medical referrals abroad.
Launched in 2017, the National Cancer Centre project had faced repeated delays. The country’s first dedicated cancer treatment centre, located within KCH, eventually opened in April 2020 without the radiotherapy bunkers.
