By Wendy Mkandawire
The Minister of Health and Sanitation, Madalitso Baloyi has officially launched K1 billion worth of free specialized surgical camps at Kamuzu Central Hospital, aimed at clearing a backlog of patients and strengthening local surgical capacity.
The K1 billion investment will provide free, life-changing specialist surgical services to hundreds of Malawians.
Speaking during the launch, Baloyi said about
300 patients have already been identified to benefit from the current camp, describing it as a critical intervention to address gaps in health service delivery.
“Malawians are still in need of surgical procedures, and as government we remain committed to restoring and safeguarding the health and safety of all people,” the she said.
She added that the camps will not only reduce the number of patients waiting for operations, but will also build the capacity of local doctors and other health professionals in Malawi.
The initiative is being conducted by the East, Central, and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC). It targets improving access to specialized surgical services and reducing waiting lists across the region.
In his remarks, Sibusiso Sibandze, Director of Operations and Institutional Development at ECSA-HC, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to helping patients who have been waiting for too long to access surgical care.“Malawi is one of our member states. In line with the resolution of our Ministers to ensure that the population in the region accesses specialist care, we have partnered to offer specialized health services to the people of Malawi,” Sibandze said.
He further noted that the camps will not only restore health to hundreds of patients, but will also strengthen Malawi’s surgical workforce through knowledge sharing and skills transfer.
According to ECSA-HC, the camps form part of broader efforts to support member states with specialist surgeons, equipment, and training to ensure more patients access timely and safe surgical care.
Health authorities expect the Kamuzu Central Hospital camps to run for several days. Patients have already been screened and booked for various specialized procedures.
