The First Lady Madame Gertrude Mutharika, on Saturday visited and cheered patients at Balaka District Hospital where she donated various drugs and medical supplies to the hospital.
Speaking after a tour of the hospital, the First Lady bemoaned the deep routed tendency of some people who do not want to seek professional medical assistance whenever they fall sick.
She said the development is costing many lives that could have been saved.
Madame Mutharika said it is only medical professionals who can make sound judgements on any medical condition and offer the required assistance.
“Up to now many people in our villages do not want to go to the hospital until it is too late for them to be saved. Let us put to a stop to this kind of thinking. It is only at the hospital where you receive professional treatment for your ailments as well counsel for you and your families to live a health life,” said Madam Mutharika.
She said women need to utilize the health facilities more considering the various health problems such threatening their lives these days.
“We only have one life so let us protect it by going to the hospital,” she said.
The First Lady also commended staff at Balaka District Hospital for demonstrating high level commitment and dedication to duty by in the face of numerous challenges facing the facility.
“I am aware of the many challenges you are having. But despite all that you still come here and serve the people with compassion and love. Today, I have brought you some items to assist you to serve the patients, I know this only eases but not eradicate the challenges we have. Be assured I have you in my mind and will always remember you,” she pledged.
During the tour, Madame Mutharika cheered patients in the adult female and male wards, children’s ward, maternity and postnatal wards where she distributed various gifts ranging from blankets, plastic basins and buckets to each and every patient.
In the postnatal ward, three babies a girl and two boys who were born on the day of her visit received special gifts including being named after herself and the President. She named the girl Gertrude and the two baby boys Peter and Arthur respectively.
