K100bn medical kits on the way
In 2022, some Malawians based in the United States of America resolved to reduce the gaps in their home country’s healthcare system.
The self-christened Patriots and their Smiling Surgeons immediately got to work.
Two years on, they are ready to deliver the initial $30 million (about K60 billion) medical equipment and supplies to over 50 health facilities nationwide.
“The first consignment is expected to arrive in the second week of October,” says Patriots’ chairperson Kamuzu Chibambo.
The charity, registered in 2023, mobilises relevant expertise, funds and technologies both locally and internationally for the public good.
It works with the Malawian diaspora and well-wishers to identify essential medical supplies, educational materials and agricultural tools.
The Patriots and Smiling Surgeons have pledged to deliver 50 containers of medical supplies this month, with each 40-foot container from the US costing $36 000.
The container carries shipment with an estimated fair market value of $536 000.
“Each public hospital in all the 28 districts shall receive medical equipment and supplies worth a minimum of $536 000 (about K1 billion) as an outright gift,” says Chibambo. “All this is outside the national budget. The gift will essentially free up public resources that would otherwise have been utilised to source medical equipment and supplies to fund other areas.”
Other international partners have pledged “even much larger humanitarian aid, reads a statement by Patriots.
They are working with the Ministry of Health, Christian Health Association of Malawi (Cham), Muslim Association of Malawi and other players to identify the needs and support.
“Subsequent phases shall target the education and agriculture sectors,” reads the statement.
The charity has prioritised tackling acute shortage of life-saving equipment and supplies the nation cannot develop without healthy citizens.
Its sister non-profit organisation, Smiling Surgeons, approached Project Cure in the US to help secure the medical shipment for Malawians’ good
Project Cure distributes medical donations to health facilities in over 135 countries.
Project Cure has confirmed its rolling operation plan to contribute towards strengthening Malawi’s healthcare in collaboration with Malawi’s Ambassador to the US retired Justice Esme Janet Chombo and Smiling Surgeons.
The rolling plan aligned to the third Malawi Health Sector Strategy (HSSP III) to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including universal health coverage (UHC).
“In particular, Project Cure’s contribution supports one of the HSSP III main objectives, namely: improving the availability, accessibility and quality of health infrastructure and medical equipment’ and establishing ‘quality health service delivery that is effective, efficient and equitable,” the annual plan reads.
In 2023, Patriots and Smiling Surgeons sponsored an assessor from the US who visited Bwaila, Salima and Nsanje district hospitals; Kamuzu, Zomba and Queen Elizabeth central hospitals as well as Malamulo Seventh-Day Adventist Hospital in Togo, Likuni Mission Hospital in Lilongwe and Senga Bay Baptist Medical Centre in Salima to appreciate the needs.
Secretary for Health signed an agreement with Patriots and Smiling Surgeons on behalf of the Ministry of Health.
Other local partners include Cham, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Kuhes), Rotarians and Lions Club.
Since last year, Patriots and Smiling Surgeons held two maxillofacial surgical camps at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre where the yoperated on 60 patients free of charge. The specialised operation helps to correct a disease, injury or defect of your face, jaw or mouth. It can reduce pain, fix deformities and restore clients’ looks.
Each operation would have cost about $3.6 million had the patients sought treatment outside Malawi.
Patriots thank Dr Tania Nkungula for donating to Kuhes a school bus to be turned into a mobile dental clinic and paying shipping costs worth about $424 000.
The medical doctor envisions the mobile clinic helping the university’s dental school reach local communities to conduct surgeries and training.
Other Malawians in diaspora also donated 15 computers to be used by dental students and tutors. Two computers will go to Dedza Secondary School