New Blantyre Unit To Aid Malawi's Youngest Accident Victims
50 percent of children die within the first 24 hours of admission due to poor care and support at this hospital.
BLANTYRE, Malawi— Children receiving critical care after accidents and injuries will now benefit from specialised facilities at Malawi's Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital following the opening this week of a new paediatric emergency wing courtesy of philanthropic donors, writes Steven Godfrey Mkweteza.
Officials say the refurbished unit at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital enables enhanced capacity responding to the thousands of vulnerable young patients rushed each year to the overwhelmed referral facility in Blantyre.
Meeta Anadkat, whose family financed the renovations after witnessing dire conditions, said they felt compelled to help strengthen weak emergency services for children often denied access to even basic treatment.
"It was very traumatic to see how children were suffering in the absence of the unit. Many children were dying due to lack of proper support, hence, our support," Anadkat remarked Tuesday during an official launch event.
She said the Hindu community sees charitable health investments as a moral obligation when otherwise underprivileged and marginalised groups lack support.
The Anadkat's donation covered construction costs of K1 billion.
The hospital's director, Dr. Kelvin Mponda said a dedicated unit with trained paediatric specialists has long represented a glaring need at the facility.
He indicated that a lack of customised acute resources contributed to preventable deaths.
"Fifty percent of children die within the first 24 hours of admission due to poor care and support. We need a vibrant unit and specialists in a bid to reduce the deaths," Mponda explained.
"At this hospital, the child mortality rate is 33 percent of that; we administer 24,000 children a year."
Health Minister Khumbize Chiponda praised the family's commitment to easing strained services but noted systemic deficits remain testing Malawi's threadbare healthcare system.
Still, officials hope the new children's wing in Blantyre prevents families from having to travel long distances to access emergency support in dire situations.
They aim to reduce mortality through speedier assistance across southern Malawi.