By Thandi Chadzandiyani
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Partners In Health (PIH) Malawi, on Friday, July 12, 2024 handed over three ambulances estimated at approximately MK214 million to Neno District Health Office (DHO) to strengthen referral systems in the district.
During the handover ceremony, PIH, locally known as Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo (APZU), also signed an MOU on scholarship agreement with the DHO which have been awarded to 6 Ministry of Health staff to upgrade their studies both locally and internationally.
According to PIH, the ambulances were procured to assist in curbing most of the negative patient outcomes that are recorded due to delayed transfer of patients from primary health centres to secondary and tertiary facilities.
The coming of the new ambulances is expected to improve patient outcomes especially maternal and neonatal health outcomes for the district.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, PIH Executive Director, Basimenye Nhlema, disclosed that PIH’s mandate is to support MoH in strengthening health system and it will continue doing so in the district and other parts of the country.
“Today, we had an opportunity to showcase some of the different works we managed to do in the 2024 financial year and the ambulances were among the several things we are supporting MoH with. The ambulances we have handed over today will help in strengthening the referral systems in the district.
“With support from Wyss Medical Foundation, we are also refurbishing an HDU unit at Neno district hospital which will be able to support critically ill patients right here in Neno that initially were referred to QECH and this is expected to improve patient outcomes,” said Nhlema.
Nhlema added that the organisation will support the MoH in Neno with fuel amounting to 1,200 ltrs per month to ensure effective and efficient utilization of the newly handed over ambulances. PIH will also support the maintenance and repairs of the ambulances to ease the cost of operating the ambulances.
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.
Among the three handed over ambulances, two were procured with funding from WYSS Medical Foundation and one was purchased with support from Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
The organization also indicated that it will support Neno district with the establishment of a Facility Cluster System for effective management of shared referral services.