Malawi Liverpool Wellcome (MLW) has donated breathing support machines to High Dependency Unit (HDU) as well as Adult Emergency and Trauma Care Center (AETC) at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) on Monday 23rd August 2021.

The machines which are called Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) are worth K4.5 million each. The CPAP machine is one of the highly demanded equipment at the referral facility’s COVID-19 isolation centre.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, the lead physician in the MARVELS study Dingase Dula said the donation of the CPAP machine means QECH has moved a step further towards saving the lives of patients with acute respiratory problems.

“We are very happy today because we have donated these machines, they will help in easing pressure at High Dependency Unit thereby improving health service delivery at this hospital,” said Dula.

Dula further commended United Kingdom well-wishers who under the banner of #BumpItForward, pumped in money used to purchase these CPAP machines.

Deputy Head of Department at Adult Emergency and Trauma Care Unit at QECH Dr. Grace Chatsika said the donation will go along away in easing pressure at Intensive Care Unit (ICU) by reducing the number of patients that are referred to thereof unit.

Dr. Chatsika commended MLW for the gesture saying it will address the immediate needs of her department and QECH in general.

Lead Research Nurse for QECH’s High Dependency and Respiratory Unit Edna Nsomba concurred with Dr. Chatsika by describing the donation as a timely gesture that will improve patient care more especially those with breathing difficulties.

Nsomba further appealed for more support saying currently there is still a growing demand for such machines due to the rising number of COVID-19 Patients and others with various respiratory diseases.