By Burnett Munthali
BLANTYRE — What began as a visit to check on an ailing woman at Mlambe Hospital turned into a broader intervention on Friday, as Vice President Dr Jane Mayemu Ansah pledged K1 million to the facility after hearing about shortages of specialised beds, medical equipment and other pressing needs.
Ansah was received by hospital management and staff before proceeding to the female ward, where 37-year-old Mphamvu Kalima of Nthukuso Village, Traditional Authority Malemia in Nsanje District, was receiving treatment.
Kalima was admitted on Thursday after complaining of a severe headache. Medical examinations later revealed an infection, and she required a blood transfusion. Principal Nursing and Midwifery Officer Anna Balley told the Vice President that the female ward had 11 patients and that Kalima was responding well to treatment.
During the briefing, Balley highlighted some of the challenges facing Mlambe Hospital, saying financial constraints, shortages of specialised beds and inadequate medical equipment were making it difficult for the facility to meet growing demand.
“The hospital is catering for a large number of patients. We lack special beds for patients and certain equipment because of financial constraints and the high population accessing this facility,” Balley said.
Hospital administrator Sister Florence Manja said the facility serves communities in surrounding areas and also receives some patients from neighbouring Mozambique, adding to pressure on its limited resources. Hospital officials also cited poverty as a major concern, noting that some patients struggle to afford medicines and other essentials required for treatment.
Ansah thanked hospital officials for the briefing and said the challenges they raised underscored the importance of ensuring that citizens have access to healthcare.
“Thank you for introducing me to the hospital. I came to visit a patient, but I did not know the history of this hospital,” Ansah said. “I appreciate that this is exactly what this government prioritises—the right to health. Human rights are inclusive.”
The Vice President subsequently pledged K1 million to Mlambe Hospital as an initial contribution towards addressing some of its needs, while assuring management that she had taken note of the concerns raised during the visit.
Ansah later spent time with Kalima, presenting her with flowers and food items and wishing her a speedy recovery. She also prayed with patients in the female ward, telling them: “Everything bows down in the presence of God.”
Kalima’s elder sister, Anna Kalima, thanked the Vice President for visiting and supporting the family, describing Mphamvu as a hardworking citizen whose illness had placed additional pressure on the family’s already limited resources.
“May God bless you, Madam Vice President. We are able to help with the little that we have,” she said.
Ansah concluded the visit by signing the hospital’s visitors’ book and distributing food items to patients in the female ward.
Beyond the immediate support to Kalima and other patients, the visit drew attention to the pressures facing Mlambe Hospital as it serves a growing population with limited resources. The K1 million pledge provides immediate assistance, while the shortages highlighted by hospital management point to broader needs for investment in equipment, specialised beds and patient care.
