Malawi has received assorted medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPEs) from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to assist in the management and containment of Covid-19 pandemic.
This medical supplies comprises 950,000 of examination gloves; 1,230,250 of surgical masks; 188,000 of protective masks and 150,000 surgical gowns valued at MK295 million.
The Deputy Minister of Health Chrissie Kalamula Kanyasho received the donation on behalf of the Malawi Government during a brief handover ceremony that took place at the Ministry of Health Headquarters in Lilongwe.
The Saudi Arabian Deputy Ambassador to Malawi, Nasser Mohammed Al-Faid, said the donation demonstrates his government’s commitment to working with its bilateral partners in the fight against the pandemic.
Al-Faid said his government would continue collaborating with the Malawi Government in the implementation of projects aimed to improve the well-being of the people of the two countries.
In her remarks, Kanyasho said the donation would go a long way in assisting the Malawi Government to provide protection for health workers in various districts of Malawi.
The Deputy Minister explained that Malawi has made huge strides in the fight against the pandemic even though many citizens have become complacent in the use of masks and hand washing as number of cases drops.
Kanyasho said “the gains realised so far in winning against the fight against Covid-19 pandemic are down to the good vision and wise leadership of His Excellency the State President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera who in January 2021 declared a State of Disaster in all the 28 districts of the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Malawi.”
Kanyasho asked Al-Faid to convey Malawians’ gratitude to the Government and People of Saudi Arabia for the consideration and the noble gesture that comes out of sheer generosity when all countries are facing hardships of one form or the other.
She said Malawians do not take this for granted, stressing that it will go a long way in strengthening preventive measures against Covid-19 in the health facilities so that patients continue to get health care.
“Covid-19 fight is real and far from over. Prevention remains the best defence against Covid-19. It demands attention from all of us and also is calling for more endless action now that we are making huge strides to maintain momentum, than at any other time,” emphasised Kanyasho.