Premier mobile phone company, TNM today handed over a MK3.5 million water tank project to Ntcheu district hospital which aims to ease water shortage that the hospital has been experiencing over the years.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the hospital , TNM’s Commercial Manager, Allan Wittika, said the company was concerned with the erratic water supply that the district and the hospital in particular has been experiencing in recent years.
“We were saddened with the reports that the hospital had to suspend major operations due to erratic water supply at the facility,” said Wittika.
Wittika said: “Being a Malawian company, we believe in giving back to the community through our corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy. The health sector is one of the sectors that we are investing our money in because we realize that only health people can contribute positively to the socio- economic development of this country,” said Wittika.
TNM has installed the water tank to cater for the hospital’s maternity ward.
“That water is life is a saying that is not worth debating, water defines all aspects of human endeavours particularly in health sector as such TNM believes that provision of quality water in health services is very crucial in quality health services delivery especially to the under-five children among others,” he said adding that the donation was Christmas gift to the people of Ntcheu.
Wittika said the health sector has numerous problems such that government alone cannot afford to tackle them and requires the support of the private sector.
“TNM feels that both of us in corporate world and government have a responsibility to add value to the initiatives meant to address the problems that the health sector is facing,” he said.
In his remarks District Health Officer Dr Gift Kwamdera commended TNM for coming to their rescue.
“We are very thankful to TNM for this timely donation, this will go a long way in solving water problem that the hospital has been experiencing “
Dr Kwamdera said the erratic water supply has been a great challenge at the facility and led to suspension of other operations at the hospital especially in the theatre.
Ntcheu District Hospital, with a 200-bed capacity, acts as a referral hospital for surrounding and saves a population of 500,000 people for the district.