As part of commemorating this year’s World Cancer Day, Standard Bank on Friday donated cancer treatment kits worthy K3 Million to Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) cancer unit in Lilongwe.
The donation comprises laboratory materials such as MRTD kits, Glucometer, Glucostics, Nitrile-Xtra exam gloves.
Other items are emergency kits like ECG multiparameter, Oxygen concentrators, Emergency trolley, Ambubags, Nasal prongs and oxygen masks.
World Cancer Day is commemorated annually on February 4. This year’s theme is ‘I am and I will’
In his remarks at the handover ceremony KCH Director, Jonathan Ngoma, thanked Standard Bank for showing spirit of patriotism by investing in the communities it gets business from.
“We are proud to receive a donation from a bank that is decorated to driving Malawi’s growth. We shouldn’t be relying on international donors from overseas for some of the problems we have.
Government cannot do everything. This donation will alleviate a number of issues the cancer unit faces,” said Ngoma.
Speaking on behalf of Standard Bank, Head of Operations, Dan Mbozi, said the bank values the relationship that exists with communities hence the need to intervene in the fight against cancer.
“We know that cancer is a major health problem in Malawi now. Remember Malawi is our home and we drive her growth so we take special interest in the social and economic wellbeing of the citizens.
By contributing towards good health of citizens, the bank is building up the human capacity needed to develop Malawi,” said Mbozi
In the sub-Saharan African region, where Malawi is located, it is projected that the burden of cancer will double by year 2030 from 715,000 new cases and 542,000 deaths in 2008.
These figures are expected to double because the region lacks capacity to deploy early detection, diagnosis and treatment.
Mbozi further said the bank will continue to partner with government and other stakeholders to achieve an efficient health system that will raise adequate awareness around cancer and deploy means of treating it.
KCH is a referral hospital that services people from the Central Region and sometimes from Zambia and Mozambique.
