Deputy Minister of Health Noah Chimpeni has expressed satisfaction with free healthcare services the Community of Sant’ Egidio’ is offering under its Disease Relief through Excellent and Advanced Means (Dream) programme.
He said this on Monday when he toured the community’s facility in Blantyre to appreciate its services.
Chimpeni said the facility is complementing the government’s efforts to ensure that people access improved healthcare services.
He said: “This is a continuation of what we had with officials from Sant’ Egidio’s Dream programme when we met in Lilongwe where they briefed us on the services they offer to our people.
“So I came to appreciate the services for myself at Dream centre. I am impressed, especially because the services are free. Of course, we have other partners who complement government’s efforts, but their services are not for free.”
Chimpeni expressed the government’s commitment to support the centre with drugs.
“We already help them with equipment for laboratories and we can help them on drugs, especially for people with epilepsy,” he said.
Dream programme general coordinator for Africa Paola Germano said they have 13 facilities in six districts where they offer healthcare services such as screening for cervical cancer, blood pressure, tuberculosis and HIV.
She said they also champion mindset change among communities on how to relate with patients.
“We also advocate for mind-set change in society, especially focusing on how people can end stigma against people living with HIV,” said Germano
