Health care workers in Blantyre district and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) will be protected from the Covid-19 pandemic, thanks to the donation of personal protective equipment (PPE) by the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust (MLW).

The PPE’s which are expected to be utilized for three months include N95 masks, gloves, 3 ply surgical masks,  plastic and reusable aprons.

Director of Health and Social Services at Blantyre District Health Office, Dr. Gift Kawalazira described the donation as strategic, considering that Blantyre has been hardly hit by the pandemic.

“More cases have been registered in Blantyre and more deaths as well, so this donation is timely.”

“It is important to protect health workers so that they should keep assisting Covid-19 patients properly,” he added.

Dr. Kawalazira said it particularly important to support, encourage and recognize the sacrifice health workers are giving in the fight against Covid-19.

In his remarks, deputy hospital director at Q.E.C.H Dr. Kelvin Mponda said, currently the hospital has 3 wards where Covid-19 patients are being treated and therefore health workers ought to be protected from contracting the virus.

He also made a rare confession that the hospital sometimes runs out of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such that they have to male an emergency procurement of the items.

Meanwhile Dereck Cocker, a researcher at MLW said their organization values a safe working environment of health care staff.

MLW has made similar donations to Chikwawa district and Zomba Central hospitals.