UNICEF donates bicycles, vehicles to MoH

Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, says utility bicycles and vehicles donated by UNICEF, through Gavi, will ease mobility challenges that Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) face when carrying out various duties across the country.

Speaking Wednesday at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Lilongwe during the handover ceremony, Chiponda said the donation represents a significant step towards a strong and routine vaccine delivery mechanism.

She said, the donation will help community health workers conduct various immunisation programs to the citizenry easily.

“We are very happy for the K1.2 billion donation of 3,050 bicycles and two utility vehicles. We express our sincere gratitude for the timely donation. The ministry has been carrying out a number campaigns, especially for immunisation of our children, so this donation will help community health workers reach out to every child for vaccination.

“These bicycles are mainly meant for HSAs because these are community health workers who face mobility challenges. Most of them walk on foot to reach out to children in villages.

So, these bicycles will help them deliver high quality immunisation and health care services to children across Malawi,” she said.

UNICEF Country Representative, Shadrack Omol, said his organisation observed that the country lacks effective and efficient supply chains of life saving commodities in various health centres hence the donation.

Omol hailed the leadership in the Ministry of Health for its determination in improving children lives and families across the country saying this has resulted into universal health service delivery.

“Providing immunisation services to children has been identified as one of the most cost-effective development interventions with both health and economic benefits. Effective and efficient supply chains are critical to delivering lifesaving commodities to vulnerable populations.

“Provision of the utility vehicles and bicycles will contribute to improved service delivery, monitoring and mentorship of primary healthcare providers and reaching all zero-dose children,” he said.