Mota Engel donates K11m worth of drugs to Malawi
Civil engineering and construction giants on Tuesday donated medical drugs and other medical supplies worth K11 million to the Malawi Government with the second one of K20 million on the way.
Shortage of drugs is one of the pressing issues in Malawi.
Speaking during a function held at the Nature sanctuary in the Capital City, Lilongwe, Motor Engel Managing Director Anton Marco Zorzi said his company decided to donate the medical drugs after learning through the media about the shortage of drugs in hospitals and as part of their social responsibility.
- Handover ceremony of the drugs
Zorzi said what the company did is “just the start”, promising that “more is coming”.
The Company boss said his company appreciates that health sector plays vital role in the development of the nation adding that health nation requires health people.
“It’s my sincere hope that the donation will save a lot of lives,” said Zorzi.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr. Charles Mwansambo commended Motor Engel, saying the donation will go a long way in assisting to avert drug shortages in the country’s hospitals.
Mwansambo said Motor Engel donation has come at the right time when the Malawi Government is struggling to ensure that all health facilities have enough medical supplies.
“It is the duty of every company to promote the health of every Malawian to ensure that they have healthy employees. It is only healthy employees that can be productive and perform effectively for any company,” said Mwansambo.
Mwansambo also commended media for highlighting the issue of scarcity of medical drugs.
Representing beneficiaries of the donation, Director of Zomba Hospital Dr. Matias Joshua commended the Ministry of Health for choosing Zomba to benefit from the Motor Engel donation.
Joshua said his institution will take care of the donation so that many patients can benefit from the same.
Mota-Engil is a Portuguese industrial conglomerate whose principal activities include civil engineering and construction of infrastructure including bridges, dams, industrial buildings, schools, chimneys and roads; energy and steel works (including steel structures, energy equipments and electricity); transport concessions and environment and services (waste, water treatment and multi services). The company is dominating contracts in Malawi.
Motor Engel came to Malawi almost some two decades ago and its first project was the construction of Lakeshore Road. The company currently employs 3,000 Malawians.
Recently, the Ministry of Health also received a USD33 Million 18-month funding meant for procurement of drugs by the Central Medical Stores in order to help solve the shortage of drugs.
Donors had been withholding close to USD60 Million funding meant for the health sector on allegation of pilferage and corruption in the procurement of drugs at the government Central Medical Stores.
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