The government and Mota Engil on Monday signed a that will see the construction company provide drugs to the country’s hospitals.

Mota Engil has already made a donation of K11 million worth of drugs in the first phase of the donation and it is expected that the company will come in the second phase with another K20 million worth of donation of drugs.

Speaking at the Mou signing ceremony in Lilongwe, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Charles Mwansambo applauded Mota Engil for the donation.

“Before the drugs were purchased, Mota Engil asked the hospitals what drugs they need. This is a relevant donation. We thank Mota Engil for this gesture. I also thank the media for highlighting the problem of drug shortage in the country. Today, it’s Mota Engil, tomorrow we would like more companies to come forward to assist in the donation of drugs. The government alone cannot provide all the health needs of Malawians,” Mwansambo said.

In his remarks, Mota Engil Managing Director, Antonmarco Zorzi said the company was compelled to assist the government after noting that only healthy people can contribute effectively to the development of a country.

“We are making this donation because we know that if people are in good health, they contribute to the development of the country. Good health to our employees means good production,” Zorzi said.

The signing of the Mou comes months after the country’s donors also donated assorted drugs to various hospitals. The drugs were donated at a time drug situation had reached crisis levels.