SALUTATIONS:
The Minister of Health and Population, Honourable Khumbize, Kandodo Chiponda, MP.
The principle Secretary for health and Population,
The Director of Nursing Services
Members of press.
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It gives me great pleasure and singular honour to stand before you today. Allow me, at the onset, to express on behalf of the Palliative Care Association, Palliative Care providers, palliative care clients, the communities and organisations that support palliative care services, and indeed on my own behalf, our sincere gratitude, all palliative care stakeholders and definitely everyone who is here at this auspicious occasion.
The MoH, distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, the aim of this meeting today is to hand over Protective Personal Equipments (PPEs) supplies that PACAM with support from True Colours Trust in UK has procured to support MoH to provide to all district hospitals in Malawi inorder to protect health care workers against the Pandemic COVID 19 infection.
The total cost spent for these PPEs is MK25, 870,940.00. (Twenty five million eight hundred thousand nine hundred and forty kwacha)
The need came following our visits to district hospitals and interaction with Palliative Care providers in palliative care clinics. We are aware that palliative care patients are highly on risk due to chronic illness they suffer which suppress immune system.
We feel sorry and sad that some health workers including palliative care providers are infected too. We believe that by protecting health care workers we are also protecting patients as well.
The MoH, distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to give you a brief genesis's of palliative care in Malawi. It was started by a team of doctors, clinical officers and nurses at Queens Elizabeth central hospital in Blantyre and Lighthouse in Lilongwe in 2002.
This was followed by the formation of Palliative Care Association of Malawi (PACAM) which was set up in September 2005 as a network of individuals and organisations working together to support and develop affordable and culturally appropriate palliative care in Malawi, with a vision to see a country where all people with life threatening illnesses are free from pain and distress.
As an association it aims to encourage the holistic care of chronically ill HIV/AIDS and cancer patients, promote the development of palliative care services, increase awareness of palliative care and establish a resource base for palliative care.
The MoH, distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Palliative care is not just for the dying, nor is it just for cancer patients. It is a healthcare approach that serves people who have chronic illness and others who may require comprehensive care including their caregivers.
Palliative care is a holistic approach to life-threatening illness that aims to add quality of life, and provide wrap around services when patients and families are attempting curative treatments, as well as when curative treatments are no longer beneficial.
The MoH, distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to appreciate the Government for establishing palliative care and Non Communicable diseases department within the MoH and designated full time officers, we will support the Government in the scale up of palliative care services for people with life threatening illness.
The MoH, distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen we should know that by providing adequate PPEs resources and skills to health care workers in this critical period of COVID 19 pandemic of which statistics by Sunday 19 July was at 2,992 confirmed case, and 62 deaths can mitigate the situation and encourage health care workers to work hard.
The MoH, distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to appreciate the Government for establishing palliative care and Non Communicable diseases department within the MoH and designated full time officers, we will support the Government in the scale up of palliative care services for people with life threatening illness.
The MoH, distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen we should know that by providing adequate PPEs resources and skills to health care workers in this critical period of COVID 19 pandemic of which statistics by Sunday 19 July was at 2,992 confirmed case, and 62 deaths can mitigate the situation and encourage health care workers to work hard.
The MoH, distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to appreciate the Government for establishing palliative care and Non Communicable diseases department within the MoH and designated full time officers, we will support the Government in the scale up of palliative care services for people with life threatening illness.
The MoH, distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen we should know that by providing adequate PPEs resources and skills to health care workers in this critical period of COVID 19 pandemic of which statistics by Sunday 19 July was at 2,992 confirmed case, and 62 deaths can mitigate the situation and encourage health care workers to work hard.
Thank you and God bless you all.
Professor Mercy Pindani – PACAM Vice Board Chair
PICTURES
COVID PPES handover ceremony by PACAM at MOH Capital Hill on Lilongwe on 21st July 2020
