Africa-Press – Malawi. The Global Fund has handed over 56 ambulances to the Ministry of Health to respond to Covid emergencies. The ambulances are equipped with oxygen cylinders that can be used when transporting Covid patients who need oxygen.
The donation, which included 64 motorcycles and medical equipment, was part of the $31 million that the ministry received from the Global Fund and Gavi.
Speaking Tuesday on behalf of the Global Fund, World Health Organisation Representative to Malawi Nonhlanhla Dlamini said Malawi benefitted from the Covid Response Mechanism (C19 RM) base allocation.
“We must ensure that beyond responding to the Covid emergency, C19RM investments must leaf to long-term outcomes,” she said.
Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda asked ministry officials to utilise the ambulances for the intended purpose. “We need to change our mindset. We need to take care of things we use in the hospitals,” she said.
Nine ambulances will be allocated to Christian Health Association of Malawi (Cham) facilities that provide 30 percent of the country’s health services.
Cham Executive Director Happy Makala thanked the Ministry of Health for considering them with nine ambulances which, he said, would help in the fight against Covid.
“Some of our hospitals are in remote areas but we are always there assisting Malawians,” Makala said.
