Malawi Liverpool Wellcome (MLW) Programme through the Maternal and Fetal Health group on Saturday 18 March 2023 donated birth packs to expectant women affected by Cyclone Freddy who came for antenatal visits at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH).
The donation is in response to Cyclone Freddy’s devastating impact which has claimed and endangered numerous lives including pregnant women and children.
Presenting the donation, MLW’s Maternal and Fetal Health Research Group Lead Professor David Lissauer said, “We knew that these women have been impacted and are in the camps; we decided to provide them with packs that contain all necessities required for their delivery. It has been a collaborative effort and we are working hand in hand with the Ministry of Health and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences to ensure these women are supported.”
Besides the donation, MLW’s employees also helped in providing essential antenatal services to these expectant women such as blood pressure checks, HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) tests, and ultrasound checks to ease the rising demand at QECH.
Manesi John who is temporarily seeking shelter at Nyambadwe Camp says the received items will go a long way in preparing for her child’s delivery as cyclone Freddy’s motivated downpours left her family destitute.
“I am grateful to Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme for the assistance rendered. We were not expecting this, and it is my appeal to other well-wishers to reach out to other expecting mothers living in temporary camps because they also need help,” said John.
About 100 birth packs were prepared to be donated at QECH with each pack comprising wrappers (chitenje), soap, socks, a Battery-powered torch, and a bucket.
According to Professor Lissauer, MLW is planning to extend similar donations to other health facilities and communities where it conducts its research.
MLW’s donations are worth over 24 million and have been sponsored by Ammalife and Lady Fatemah which are United Kingdom-based charity organisations that have each contributed about 12 million Malawi Kwacha.
