Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi donates drugs to Katema heath centre
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi (ELCM) under its Malaria Programme has donated assorted drugs and two bicycle ambulances all valued at K700, 000 to Katema Heath Centre in Mangochi.
Speaking Saturday during the donation of the drugs which coincided with the launch of a child feeding programme and the launch of a mobile clinic that was held at Evangelical Lutheran Chimvano Congregation at Katema Health Centre, ELCM Bishop Dr. Joseph Bvumbwe said the church has an obligation to help people spiritually by ensuring that they get quality health services.
Bvumbwe said the ELCM strives to complement government in its efforts to elevate people’s lives spiritually as well as physically hence the donation of the drugs and bicycle ambulances to help ease some of the health related problems people in the area face.
“The Health Centre here is far from the nearest health facility which is roughly about thirty kilometers so the ambulances will help to ease transportation problems people in this area have been facing as they will now be able to carry patients to the hospital using the ambulances,” Bvumbwe said.
Bvumbwe said ELCM was also committed to helping people under its malaria programme as one way of preaching the word of God as it was started by the missionaries some years back.
He added that the church was working closely with government in fighting against malaria, noting that ELCM has since assisted 13 hospitals with drugs and some medical equipment valued at about K10 million.
“Today, we have just launched the child feeding programme that will benefit children under the age of five as well as launched a mobile clinic that will serve people around this area once a month,” Bishop Bvumbwe said.
Speaking at the same function, a representative of Katema Heath Centre, Cecilia Jumpha thanked ELCM for the donation saying it would go a long way in assisting people in the area who were mostly underserved.
Jumpha said Evangelical Lutheran Church of Malawi was doing a commendable job in complementing government and its partners in improving people’s lives without regard to their religious affiliation.