Global Health Corps provides palliative care items to Bwaila District Hospital

Malawi: Global Health Corps - GHC (2021-2022 Cohort) donated items worth K600,000 to the Palliative Care Department at Bwaila District Hospital Monday, 30th May 2022.

To name a few of the donated items, there were 28 rolls of bandages, two sets of crutches, ten packs of cotton wool 500g, five exercise mats, ten Gauze rolls (90cm 100cm), twenty-five packs of Gauze Swabs, three lumber corsets, and a wheelchair.

Christopher Kaudzu, an AFIDEP Communication Associate and a fellow of GHC, stated that they are overjoyed to have provided them with what they required.

"After reviewing some of the issues affecting the health system, we approached the DHO of Bwaila Hospital, and after assessing their needs, we determined that the Palliative Care Department was in need of the items and support,” he stated.

Bertha Kaudza, Lilongwe District Nursing and Midwifery Officer - DNMO, stated that they are grateful to GHC for the donation because it will help the department take care of their patients.

She said: "As of today, we are extremely grateful for the recent donation, and we promise our Global Health Corps that we will use these items and supplies for their intended purpose."

Kaudza pleaded with all Malawians and well-wishers to assist them with the items and supplies because the facility is facing numerous challenges.

"We do receive resources from our mother (the Ministry of Health), but many of them are insufficient for patient care. So, well-wishers, we invite you to come in and help us at this time, especially since we are in the midst of a crisis so that we can continue to provide care to our clients,” she said.

Anne Mwinama Kapito, a registered nurse-midwife in the palliative department, stated that the department is relieved of the scarcity of resources because they will be able to provide care to their patients without any difficulties.

"The aid that we have just received here will really help us, but as a department, we are running out of a lot of resources, including drugs like a pain reliever that is Liquid Maphine that palliative care clients receive here, but it is currently out of stock, which is really bad,” Kapito stated.

According to Kapito, among other things, the hospital needs Tramadol, Chlorhexidine, Bandages, Clutches, Wheelchairs, Gauze, Cotton Wool, Lumber Corsets.

The GHC fellowship recruits and trains talented young leaders with diverse skill sets and backgrounds to promote collaboration on a variety of health issues in the placement country and other countries such as Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia.