Lions club to build K100m maternity wing

Capital City Lions Club has launched an initiative to raise K100 million for the construction of a maternity wing at Lemwe Health Centre in Traditional Authority (T/A) Chitukula in Lilongwe.

The club’s president Keta Mwalweni said in an interview on the sidelines of a Family Fun Day on Thursday that the project is part of their motto ‘We Serve’ and seeks to complement government’s efforts to serve marginalised communities with quality services in the safe motherhood sector.

“I become very concerned when expectant women deliver in appalling facilities or indeed at home because of lack of maternity wings.

“We, therefore, thought it is imperative that we should raise funds to construct a modern maternity facility to help mothers in this area deliver in a space that accords them the respect they deserve,” she said.

Mwalweni also said their wish is to build a unit replete with delivery beds, operating rooms and emergency delivery beds, which would be equipped with incubators and phototherapy units.

Lions International District 412 second vice-district governor Chisomo Gunda said the project is critical as it is coming at a time the organisation is commemorating its 100 years of existence.

“We aim to leave our footprints in every activity that we undertake and we are delighted with the opportunity to impact lives of communities in Lemwe and many others,” said Gunda.

She said more projects will be undertaken to uplift the lives of the poor.

In 2011, government closed Lemwe Health Centre due to a number of challenges, leaving a community of over 19 000 people with no health centre.