Pop star Madonna and President Peter Mutharika on Tuesday officially opened the Mercy James Center for Paediatric and Surgery Care at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre.

In her speech, Madonna thanked Mutharika and QECH staff for their and support in ensuring that her dream of the children’s hospital come to fruition.

She said despite the legal battle she had to fight in order to adopt Mercy James, she is happy that she won the case and was able to adopt Mercy James.

She alluded to the fact that the courts barred her from adopting Mercy because she, Madonna was divorced hence not fit to raise a child.

“I am a fighter. I am a feminist. Those who know me know that I am not someone who takes no for an answer if you can’t give me a logical reason. In the end, love conquers all,” Madonna said to loud applause.

In her remarks, Mercy James thanked Madonna for her dedicating to saving lives of children in Malawi.

“Thanks mum, you are the bomb”

Mutharika thanked Madonna for her passion for saving and giving a better life to Malawian children. He said children are the society’s most precious gift hence the need for them to be protected.

He added that it is important to invest in children like what Madonna has done.

He said because of her passion for Malawi, Madonna has now been adopted as a daughter of Malawi.

On the other hand, Minister of Health Dr. Peter Kumpalume urged hospital authorities to ensure that the facility is kept neat and tidy at all times.