Africa-Press – Malawi. President Lazarus Chakwera Sunday hailed the country’s healthcare workers for putting up a gallant fight against the Covid pandemic. He said this at Kamuzu Palace during the inaugural Zikomo Awards, at which 38 healthcare workers were awarded for selfless service to healthcare service seekers.
“Over the past 12 months, Malawi has been like a house set on fire by the raging flames of the Covid pandemic and the healthcare professionals who work in our health facilities have been our trusted fire fighters.
“In every district across Malawi, these medical fire fighters have donned their gear and braved the scorching fury of a deadly virus to save lives and preserve public health. They have put themselves in harm’s way more than any other sector and there is no award on this side of Jerusalem that can adequately repay the debt of gratitude we owe them” Chakwera said.
The President conceded that none of what he and his vice Saulos Chilima have achieved in their one year of presidency could have been met without the selfless sacrifices of healthcare workers, who were resilient against the invisible enemy called coronavirus.
“On this one-year anniversary of the Tonse Government, we can testify that much of what we have accomplished over the past 12 months would have been impossible without a winning strategy against the Covid pandemic and a winning team of healthcare workers to execute it. We can testify that none of the campaign promises we have fulfilled thus far would have been attainable if the fire of the virus had been allowed to spread and turn Malawi into a sick bay.
“By fighting off the pandemic, our healthcare workers made Malawi safe and stable enough for my administration to successfully launch the AIP [Affordable Input Programme] and produce the largest harvest of maize on record. By fighting off the pandemic, our healthcare workers made Malawi safe and stable enough for my administration to successfully fund democratic by-elections to fill seats that had fallen vacant,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda said the 38 awardees were representatives of countless healthcare workers that have put their lives on the line to save Malawians from Covid-related death.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to motivate healthcare workers by improving their working conditions. During the presentations, Dr Tamara Phiri, Watipaso Kambala and Thandamula Chipofya narrated their experiences in the past 12 months.
