Patients at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), Chatikha maternity wing are to breathe a sigh of relief following the donation of three Oxygen Concentrator machines by Malawi’s telecommunication service provider, TNM on Tuesday.

The donation has been made just days after the hospital held a fundraising activity aimed at raising money to buy medical equipment at the hospital.

Speaking during the handover ceremony at QECH, TNM Head of Blantyre Region David Nyirenda said as a Malawian company they decided to make the donation after learning that the country’s biggest referral hospital had only one oxygen concentrator.

“We are making a donation of three oxygen concentrators valued at K3.6 million. As a Malawian company we felt obliged after learnt that the country’s biggest referral hospital has only one oxygen concentrator. This is not enough considering the fact that there is an average of four patients needing oxygen therapy at any given time,” said Nyirenda.

Doctors at the hospital on May 31 organized fundraising activities aimed at raising money for the purchase of medical equipment for the hospital as well as creating awareness on the plight medical personnel at the hospital face in the course of delivering health services.

“Doctors and all medical personnel at this hospital should be recommended for coming out in the open and organizing the fundraising campaign. It just shows that they have the plight of patients at heart,” said Nyirenda.

Chatikha Maternity unit matron Edith Tewesa thanked TNM for the timely donation saying the wing had only one operating oxygen concentrator’s machine.

“We are really grateful to TNM for this assistance which will go a long way in reducing the challenges that the unit has been experiencing. In labour ward we have complications that need oxygen concentrators and with this assistance from TNM our goal to have health mothers and babies,” said Tewesa.

Chatikha maternity wing delivers an average of 40 babies a day.