Secondary school learners captured in class
Well-wishers in Germany have donated a K6.5 million worth X-Ray machine to St. Johns Hospital in Mzuzu through Maria Mkinga, 29, who was diagnosed with a heart problem at the hospital.
Due to lack of advanced equipment, she was referred to Mzuzu Central Hospital.
Maria’s father, Flument Mkinga, who is also founder for Development Action for Marginalised Rural Areas, presented the machine on Friday on behalf of the Germany people.
He said: “When it came to light that my daughter was to be sent abroad for an operation, we just returned home because we could not afford air tickets and the hospital bills.
“I then contacted our family friends in Germany Mr. and Mrs Michel and Lucia Schulz in Essen Town.”
Mkinga said the well-wishers talked to doctors and the media who later assisted in mobilising about K10 million from people in Essen.
He said when Maria went for the treatment, the doctors in Germany detected that the situation would better be treated without an operation; hence, serving some money.
Said Mkinga: “As such, friends in Germany suggested that the remaining amount of money be used to buy the X-Ray machine and donate it to St. Johns Hospital.
“They chose this hospital because it was where the problem was first detected.”
St. Johns Hospital principal nursing officer Nancy Kamwendo commended the well-wishers for the support.
She said the hospital’s scanning machine is over 15 years old and needed replacement to suit the current medical technology.
“As a hospital, we have specialists, but our problem is lack of modern machines for diagnosis,” Kamwendo said.
Maria, who is now fine, is studying for a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education at Malawi Assemblies of God University.
