Nsanje, February 12, Mana: Amid shortage of drugs in public hospitals, a Non Governmental organization Sustainable Rural Community Development (SURCOD) has rescued Nsanje District health office with a donation of multi vitamin drugs worth over 6 million kwacha.

Executive Director for the organization January Mvula said they have provided the drugs to the hospital in an attempt to help fight malnutrition among pregnant and lactating mothers but also the children themselves.

 

Mvula believes that if utilized properly, the drugs will help improve nutrition levels of the women and children.

“As an organization that focuses on women and children welfare, we thought of complementing government’s effort in ensuring that women and children are living a health life. This is the reason we asked our partners Vitamin Angels in US to assist us with the drugs.

“It is our hope that the fight against malnutrition among women and children in the district will be achieved,” said Mvula.

He further warned authorities to guard against theft of the drugs saying they have been donated for the benefit of the poor people.

District Nursing Officer Grace Mkandawire thanked the organization for the support describing it as timely.

According to Mkandawire the facility has been failing to provide such drugs to pregnant women, which has had a negative impact on the effectiveness of the drugs.

“We appreciate for the support as now both the pregnant and lactating mothers will have access to the drugs. This will help to reduce district’s malnutrition levels which are on the increase,” said Mkandawire who could not provide the actual statistics.

SURCOD has been implementing various activities in Nsanje since 2010.