Over the years I have always wondered what really the Mother’s Day Fun Run is like. I always thought people from Nation Publications Limited (NPL) come in one place, run for 2km and then call it a day.
Over the years I have always wondered what really the Mother’s Day Fun Run is like. I always thought people from Nation Publications Limited (NPL) come in one place, run for 2km and then call it a day.Fortunately for me, this year I had the opportunity to be a part of this life changing event under the MamaYe Campaign.The fun was happening in Mangochi which happens to be one of the Mamaye Campaign districts and it only made sense that we take part. This is on top of the fact that the whole idea is to raise funds to purchase equipment for different district hospitals to help save the lives of mothers and babies.To my surprise, there were lots of people, representing different organisations within the private sector as well as different projects. I had not expected that NPL had won itself this strong partnership with the private sector. Honestly, it was a beautiful sight. Nine years after the start of the fun run project; I think there is hope for mothers and babies in Malawi.Activities of the fun run....The day started with an exciting run by the delegates: company CEOs, country directors, managers, Mamaye Board Members and everyone else. From there, the delegates visited Mangochi District Hospital postnatal ward, antenatal and kangaroo ward.Delegates had with them bars of soap and plastic basins donated by Candlex and Rkay Plastics respectively which were given to the expected women and newborn babies.The joy in their faces was evident, as they smiled and mingled with this huge crowd of people. To think that the quality of care at hospital will be improved with the donations, is just awesome!!!From the hospital it was now time for speeches and symbolic presentations of the donated items worth K31.5 million.What delegates had to say...Speaking on behalf of the Mangochi Council, Yusuf Kusedwe said women are key to the development of the country and this year those of Mangochi have received the best Mother’s Day Gift.However there is still need for a lot of investment in maternal health country wide if we were to make any real difference.“The health system should be affordable. Government cannot do this alone. It needs help from the private sector. For the best results I suggest an urgent need for collaborative response between the health sector and other stakeholders.”Mangochi District Hospital services 1.1 million people. On average, in a month, there are 667 deliveries at the facility four of which result in maternal deaths. The hospital needs K700m to function effectively but it only gets half of this.Mbumba Banda, NPL chairperson and also MamaYe Board Member said there is need for collective focus in making childbirth safe especially for the less privileged. This is because the country’s mothers deserve to see their baby throughout life.“If we are to succeed we need to create initiatives that drive attitude change. We cannot talk about safe motherhood without talking about youth empowerment and male involvement.”What was donated....The MamaYe Campaign joined Save the Children, World Vision, FMB Bank, Press Trust, Dossani Trust, National Bank, Presidential Initiative on Safe motherhood and Malawi Revenue Authority among others in making Mangochi District Hospital a safer health facility for women.The campaign donated 20 blood pressure machines and 30 water proof curtains. Items donated by other organisations include digital infant weighing scales, heavy duty fans, oxygen concentrators and buckets.I look forward to next year as the fun run goes to Mchinji. It promises to be bigger and better as new ideas keep flowing.Brilliant work NPL!!!!!