MAAMBA Collieries has donated a ventilator to the Ministry of Health to bolster Maamba General Hospital’s capacity to provide emergency care during the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond.
The high-tech equipment was received by the Minister of Health Dr Chitalu Chilufya, on behalf of the ministry from MCL Head of Corporate Affairs, Commodore PJ Sudhir (Retd) on Monday.
As the world scrambles to find a cure or a vaccine for the deadly virus, respirators (ventilators) have proved to be vital lifesaving equipment when the disease reaches an advanced stage in a patient.
In handing over the ventilator, Commodore Sudhir said “Since privatization, Maamba Collieries’ operations have been aimed to make a difference in the area where it operates. The vision of the company is to grow the energy industry in Zambia, to help meet the country’s and the region’s energy needs. And as we do this, we ensure the community in which we operate, also grows and benefits from our investment,” he said.
“In this process, MCL is happy to join hands with the Ministry of Health in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak, by augmenting critical care facilities in the area where it operates. Maamba Collieries has also been closely involved with District Health officials in donating PPE and other hygiene materials, required for setting up the COVID-19 Isolation centre at Sinazongwe.”
He assured the ministry that even as the company continued operations to keep the plant running and contribute towards reduced load-shedding, its health and safety department would continue to ensure compliance with all health guidelines and help the Ministry of Health and Maamba General Hospital in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
MCL’s social investment initiatives focus on health, education, infrastructure development, sporting facilities and other community needs. On the health front – its sponsors have donated US$500,000 towards the University Teaching Hospital eye department in the past, and the company is now collaborating with the Ministry of Health and Operation Eyesight Universal to establish a state of the art eye care clinic at Maamba General Hospital.
MCL is also in the final stages of building a clinic near Lake Kariba for hand-over to the Ministry of Health, to help local communities access healthcare in remote and inaccessible villages.
