Partners In Health (PIH) Malawi, locally known as Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo (APZU), has handed over three ambulances estimated at approximately 214 million Malawi Kwacha to Neno District Health Office (DHO) to strengthen referral systems in the district.
During the handover ceremony, PIH also signed an MOU on scholarship agreement with the DHO following the awarding of scholarships to 6 Ministry of Health staff to upgrade their studies both locally and internationally.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, PIH Executive Director, Basimenye Nhlema, said the ambulances were procured with support from Wyss Medical Foundation and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to reduce delays in transfer of patients from primary health centres to secondary and tertiary facilities.
“PIH’s mandate is to support MoH in strengthening health systems in the country. So we purchased these vehicles as one way of supporting the ministry and in doing so, we expected to improve the patients outcomes especially maternal and neonatal health outcomes in the district,” said Nhlema.
Nhlema added that the organisation will support MoH with fuel amounting to 1,200 ltrs per month as well as maintenance and repairing of the ambulances to ease the cost of operations.
The organization also disclosed that with support from Wyss Medical Foundation, it is finalizing the refurbishment of an HDU unit at Neno district hospital which will be able to support critically ill patients which were initially were referred to QECH and this is expected to improve patient outcomes,” said Nhlema.
In his remarks, Neno District Hospital Director of Health and Social Services, Dr. Enoch Ndarama, commended PIH for the timely support which he cited will assist in providing quality health care to the people in the district.
“The support has come when the district has been facing challenges in the transport system and we are so grateful for timely support. Today, we have also received scholarships that have been awarded to our staff and this will definitely assist in the capacity development of these staff which will help them rendering skilled services to our patients,” said Ndarama.
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