Malawi Islamic Relief Donates Medicines

“Most of the items that have been donated here will be utilized at Machinga District Hospital and Zomba Central Hospital both at Primary and Secondary level as referral hospitals,” Minister of Health Dr Jean Kalilani told Malawi News Agency on Friday, July 11.

“They deserve to have medical supplies in full stock as they receive difficult cases,” she added.

The donation, made on Thursday at Kanengo Medical Stores in Lilongwe, is worth of K10 million (US$25,000).

The donated supplies include multivitamins, potassium chloride, syringes and needles, nystatin and declofenac sodium.

Minister Kalilani praised the donation as making a big improvement to the health service in the country which has been facing rising demand for medical supplies.

Head of Programs for Islamic Relief Malawi, Sharif Mia, said the donation came about after recognizing the shortfall of medicines in Malawian hospitals.

The donation was made possible by the Islamic Relief USA which has branches in more than 40 countries with the aim of fighting poverty.

Islam is the second largest religion in Malawi after Christianity. Muslims account for about 36 % of the country’s 16 million population.

The donation was made in Ramadan, Muslims’ holiest month in the Islamic calendar.

In Ramadan, adult Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

The sick and those traveling are exempt from fasting especially if it poses health risks.

In Ramadan, Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to be closer to Allah through prayers, self-restraint, good deeds and charity to the poor.

HK