World Health Organisation (WHO) Malawi office donated assorted laboratory items to the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) at the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM)-Lilongwe.
Soon after blessing the occasion, Mrs Dorothy Moyo, Chief Laboratory Scientist also the head of the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) in her capacity as the master of ceremony welcomed the team and gave a flow to Mr Sheinton Kacheche, Chief Laboratory Scientist head of the National Parasitology Reference Laboratory to open the ceremony with a word of a prayer.
Mr. Mabvuto Chiwaula, Chief Laboratory Scientist the head of National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL) made an opening remarks by thanking the WHO for the timely support it provides to PHIM. He also thanked the team of PHIM that gathered to witness the donation of laboratory items and added that the items will be used according to the requirement and serve the purpose.
Dr Getrude Chapotela, a country representative for WHO made her speech to appreciate the purpose of the donation. In her speech appreciated the good work NPHRL is doing for the Malawi population by ensuring the availability of laboratory services in times of emergencies. She said that WHO saw it important to support NPHRL in its readiness to respond to Monkey Pox, commonly called Mpox, a threat Malawi is currently having. She assured PHIM that WHO is there to support in all aspects apart from just laboratory items.
The Deputy Director Mr Joseph Bitilinyu Bangoh made an appreciation speech on behalf of the PHIM Director Dr Matthews Kagoli for the donation. In his speech, he thanked the Director of PHIM Dr Matthews Kagoli for his good leadership and WHO for the timely support of the items worth 15 million Kwacha which he said will support NPHRL in its testing capabilities.
He said the donation would go a long way in helping the Public Health Institute of Malawi meet the answer the needs of the people of Malawi. He said the assaulted devices and accessories devices and accessories were of higher quality to help in sample transportation, processing, storage as well as waste management. He further lamented the lack of transport the NPRL is facing in times of supervision and other activities. He lobbied for the donation of a vehicle through, Dr Nellie of WHO, to ease the transport problem.