By Alick Nzangaya
A health organization, Partners In Health Malawi, locally known as Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo (PIH/APZU) has donated assorted cooler chain equipments to 10 health centres and two hospitals in Neno district.
According to PIH/APZU Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chiyembekezo Kachimanga, the donation which is worth about MK45 million, was made on Monday January 31, 2022 at a handover ceremony which took place at Lisungwi Community Hospital.
Kachimanga said these cooler chain equipments which include: 10 electric powered and 10 solar powered refrigerators, 20 cooler boxes and 100 ice packs, will help with storing essential drugs that need refrigeration.
“These cold chain equipments are vital, especially this time when the Ministry of Health is administering COVID-19 vaccine. You can see that we have included ice packs which will be used when transporting the COVID-19 vaccines to different areas in the district.
“Realizing the electrical power problems in the district, the solar powered refrigerators will ensure effective and constant supply of power to maintain the cold chains in health centres that do not have reliable gensets,” said Kachimanga.
Kachimanga further added that the organisation thought of making this donation after doing an assessment together with Neno District Hospital where they observed that some health facilities in the district have no cold chain equipment.
He added that they also observed that some facilities have the equipments but most of them are malfunctioning and says in other situations, health workers walk long distances to store their vaccines at neighboring health facilities.
In his reaction to the development, Enoch Ndalama a medical officer who represented Neno District Health Officer said the donation was so timely claiming the solar powered refrigerators will pose as a relief to electricity challenges.
Ndalama then commended PIH/APZU for the support and for other huge investments the organisation has made in the district, including construction of Lisungwi Community Hospit
