Indian High Commissioner Donates $1 Million Worth of Medicine to Malawi
Malawi receives a significant donation of 165 tons of medicine, including essential and anti-cancer drugs, from India.
Lilongwe, Malawi: The government of Malawi has received a generous donation of 165 tonnes of medicine worth $1 million (approximately MK 1 billion) from the High Commissioner of India, writes Abraham Bisayi.
The donation, which includes essential medicines and anti-cancer drugs, was officially handed over to Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, MP.
Expressing gratitude, Minister Chiponda thanked the High Commissioner for the donation and said it made a significant contribution to improving healthcare delivery in the country.
The increased supply of medicines will address the growing demand for healthcare services and benefit those seeking care in health facilities.
"I want to assure you that this donation will be put to the intended use and for the benefit of those seeking care in the health facilities. These medicines shall, by next week, be distributed to health facilities, including some CHAM Hospitals," Minister Chiponda stated.
She also highlighted the recurrent challenges in the supply of antiepileptic medicines and expressed hope for future donations to address this specific need.
Minister Chiponda urged health officials to ensure the proper maintenance of medical supplies and said there was a zero-tolerance policy for any form of abuse.
The Indian High Commissioner to Malawi, Subbiah Gopalakrishnan, highlighted that the donation was a response to the healthcare system challenges faced by the country and aimed to improve the lives of Malawians.
He expressed satisfaction in donating essential medicines, including the second and final tranche of humanitarian assistance, which included anti-cancer drugs.
"On behalf of the Indian government, I am happy that today we have donated this consignment of essential medicines, including the second and last tranche of humanitarian assistance. The anti-cancer medicine was one of the announcements made by our Deputy Foreign Minister during his visit to Malawi last year," said High Commissioner Gopalakrishnan.
The donation from India will greatly support Malawi's healthcare system, providing vital medicines to meet the growing healthcare demands and improving the well-being of its people.