JB promises construction of Zomba District Hospital
When she officially laid a foundation stone for a Maternity Waiting Home at Domasi Rural Hospital on New Year’s Day, President Joyce Banda promised the construction of a new Zomba District Hospital “as soon as February or March” this year.
“I am aware of the immense problems that people in Zomba face to access medical attention owing to the fact that the Zomba Referral Hospital already caters for many cases. I will urgently champion the construction of a new hospital here to ease the pressure on the referral hospital,” said the President, who disclosed she was born at the rural hospital over 60 years ago.
Turning to the Waiting Shelter, the President said God gave women a noble responsibility to bring life on earth and that it was therefore imperative that expectant women are offered a conducive environment to give birth. She said it did not make sense for women to be dying while giving birth to new life.
“I wish to implore on husbands to support their expectant wives to ensure safe motherhood and maternal health,” she said.
President Banda said she was greatly indebted to Tasha de Vasconcelos, a Spanish model and European Union (EU) Ambassador on Humanitarian Causes and Founder of AMOR for her selfless involvement in ensuring safe motherhood and maternal health in Malawi.
She said the Waiting Home to be constructed at the hospital will be funded by her foundation.
“She is a young selfless model who was born in Africa. Selfless because she still remembers Africa and its problems hence her presence here. I wish to thank her for her continued support. This is not the first time she is involved in such activities in Malawi. In 2009, she also helped us set up a clinic in Dowa,” said the Head of State.
Tasha said it was a great honor for her to be in Zomba and “I speak to you from the bottom of my heart and I bring to you a message of hope”.
“I bring in the world where we live, a message of confidence in humanity from the continent where I was born, Africa that has brought me back to realizing how much we need each other.
“With the solidarity of the women and each of us together, we can indeed change the world. I have a passion for Malawi and in particular, Malawian women who have touched my heart,” she said.
She said in her role as European Union Ambassador for Humanitarian Causes, she would continue her work of serving humanity.
“As international supermodel, I encourage all you young people to follow your dreams because anything is possible with hard work. I salute, admire and support President Joyce Banda,” said Tasha, adding that on January 20, 2013 a state-of-the-art mobile eye clinic “is arriving in Malawi and will operate from Nandumbo Health Centre in Balaka”.
