QECH doctors send SOS
Some medical doctors at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) have organised a fundraising fun run scheduled for May 31 to mobilise resources to address challenges that compromise patient care and service delivery in the maternity unit.
Funds to be raised during the event, to take place along the Masauko Chipembere Highway, will be used to buy assorted equipment to be used in the Gogo Chatinkha Maternity Care Support (Chamaca) at QECH.
According to a statement from the group of doctors signed by Dr Frank Taulo, Chamaca president and head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at QECH, medical staff in the maternity unit face many challenges that cost lives and future well-being of mothers and babies every day.
Reads in part the statement of appeal: “Currently, there is only one steriliser in the whole QECH shared by all departments and units resulting in delays in execution of our theatre services.
“This may lead to loss of lives of mothers and babies or the delivery of brain damaged babies. Alternatively, we travel long distances [e.g. Thyolo District Hospital about 50 kilometres away] to sterilise our equipment and linen. In dire situations, we have been forced to close the unit and transport our mothers to Mlambe Hospital [at Lunzu, about 25 km away] to undergo emergency surgery.”
The doctors are expecting to raise K68 million from the run which will be in form of a race involving wheelchairs, hospital beds and trolleys.
The teams to take part in the race will be assembled from several corporate organisations within Blantyre. Those willing to participate will do so at minimum fee of K1 million (US$2 326).
