By Steve Chirombo
Government has assured Malawians it will equip all health facilities in the country with necessary equipment to enable them fight COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister in the Special Cabinet Committee on Corona, Ralph Jooma, who is also Minister of Transport and Public Works made the remarks when he visited Chikwawa District Council on Tuesday.
Jooma said Central Medical Stores and the United Nations Children’s Fund have been entrusted to buy the necessary equipment.
“We know we have so many pharmaceutical companies manufacturing what we need, and we have advised all of them to follow proper procedures so that we can start buying from them before we import,” he said.
The minister, therefore, said his visit was to verify and confirm preparedness of Chikwawa as a district in the fight against COVID-19.
He then urged the District Health Office (DHO) to record all gaps that need to be covered so that government takes note of them and see areas it needs to intervene.
“It is our aim to ensure that every facility is well equipped. We are prepared as government to protect everyone, especially our health workers so that we do not have anyone of them contracting the virus,” he said.
On his part, Stalin Zinkanda, Director of Health and Social Services for Chikwawa DHO commended support they received from various partners in the district.
He said although such was a development, the facility still lacked necessary personal protective equipment.
Taking his turn, Deputy Director in the Department of Quality Management in the Ministry of Health (MoH), Dr Malangizo Mbewe concurred with the minister on some action points.
He added the ministry was also conducting staff trainings on the same, saying they were also in the process of distributing Personal Protective Equipment to all the districts in the country.
Chikwawa recorded its first COVID-19 case early April and has about 24 travelers who are being followed.-MANA
