First Lady gives Thyolo patients New Year treat: Names baby ‘Gertrude’

The First Lady Madam Gertrude Mutharika has called on people in the country including women to be positive minded in order to unleash their full potential and positively change the course of their lives in the new year.

The President’s spouse was speaking on New Year’s Day at Chisoka Health Center in Thyolo district where she cheered patients, new mothers and pregnant women waiting to deliver at the facility.

Among other things the First Lady said people, especially those in rural areas need to seek professional medical assistance when they fall sick as well as encourage pregnant women to deliver their babies at the hospital to ensure a health life.

She said delivering at home does not only put the life of the mother at risk but also that of the unborn or newly born baby.

“There is no reason that a woman should deliver at home with the help of people who are not trained when we have a hospital at our disposal. Let us utilise the health facilities in our localities like this hospital and the well trained medical personnel in the facilities. Let us make sure that we are attending antenatal clinics to be monitored and when the time for delivery comes, it should be at a hospital and not anywhere else,” said Mutharika.

The First Lady also called on people to adopt good hygiene practices such as keeping their surroundings clean and properly disposing waste to prevent preventable diseases such as malaria, diarrohea among others.

During the visit the First Lady donated drugs and other medical supplies to the hospital as well as cheered patients in the wards where she donated various items including; meal meal, cooking oil, salt, sugar, soap, blankets and basins to patients.

In the postnatal ward Madam Mutharika named Gertrude a baby girl born to Esther Pinifolo of Katundu Village, T/A Chimaliro in the district.

Born on New Year’s Eve, baby Gertrude was the latest baby out of the 13 babies born at Chisoka Health Center this week.

On Christmas day the First Lady also named after herself a baby girl at Mangochi district hospital.