Cancer patients in the country can now breath a sign following the inauguration of mult billion kwacha cancer centre, the international Blantyre cancer Centre-IBCC which will now give access to advanced treatment.
Speaking during the official launch in Nyambadwe, Blantyre, President Lazarus Chakwera has underscored the magnificent role that the cancer centre will play in the country to make cancer treatment accessible to Malawians.
Chakwera said the battle to defeat cancer requires a concerted effort, as the disease does not segregate anyone; hence, the facility is very important.
He also applauded the Thomson and Barbara Mpinganjira Foundation for the construction of the Cancer Center, which he said will ease the burden of the disease on Malawians. He therefore urged the Ministry of Health to provide the needed support to the facility.
He said: “You have turned your personal tragedy to a public triumph.”
In his remarks, board chairperson for International Blantyre Cancer Centre-IBCC, Thomson Mpinganjira said the hospital will provide both chemotherapy and radiotherapy which will help in treatment of cancer patients within the country.
He said once fully completed with state -of-the-art accomodation, the cost of the project will amount to 7 million euros (about K12 billion). So far about K9.6 billion has been spent on the first phase of the project.
He said: “Our country will be built by no one other than ourselves. But its a tired refrain because it speaks to a plain and yet profound truth. It’s principally us citizens who will change this country. By being the answer to our problems. Whenever we are able to, anyway.”
He suggested that the Cancer Center is a game change to many Malawian.
He therefore, applauded President Dr Lazarus Chakwera for honoring the event indicating that his presence clearly shows that President Chakwera values the contribution of the private sector to the country.
Mpinganjira said the death of his wife is what motivated him to build the International Blantyre Cancer Center which has officially been opened by President Dr Lazarus Chakwera today.
He added that the Center will also help the country’s massive foreign exchange challenges as the treatment will be extended to the citizens of other countries.
In his remarks, Minister of Local Government, Unity, and Culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda who has represented the Minister of Health at the launch commended Dr Thomson Mpinganjira for his brilliant vision saying that what he has done, is real love to the nation.
Chimwendo Banda said the facility is being opened at a time when Cancer is causing deaths world wide and over 17,000 Cancer cases are occuring in the country each year.
The IBCC is a 50-50 joint venture between the Thomson and Barbara Mpinganjira Foundation and Luxemburg based OMCC. The foundation embarked on the project following the diagnosis and subsequent death of Mpinganjira’s wife Barbara in January 2019.
About 5.2 million Euros (K9.6 billion) have been invested in the construction of the facility.
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