Standard Bank refurbished Zomba HDU to boost maternal health services.

Maternal healthcare in the eastern region has received a significant boost following the official handover of a refurbished High Dependency Unit (HDU) at Zomba Central Hospital by Standard Bank Plc.

The state-of-the-art facility, valued at 210 million kwacha is expected to play a critical role in reducing maternal deaths by improving emergency care for women with life-threatening conditions during childbirth.

Health officials have welcomed the development, describing the HDU as a timely intervention in the fight to save lives.

Deputy Minister of Health Nowa Chimpeni praised the bank’s support saying the upgraded unit will enhance the ministry’s capacity to deliver quality maternal and emergency care in Zomba and surrounding districts.

“This unit will play a pivotal role in reducing maternal deaths across the eastern region as well as beyond. It is encouraging to see the private sector stepping in to help government overcome this challenge of limited resources especially such a unit” Chimpeni explained.

Standard Bank CEO Phillip Madinga said the HDU’s location is strategic as it will also serve as a referral center for the Eastern Region, covering districts such as Machinga, Balaka, and Mangochi.

“As a bank we are committed to assisting Malawians in the health sector with resources that improve efficiency. This HDU will serve the public around and abroad Zomba district,” Madinga said.

The new HDU is expected to help address complications that often lead to preventable maternal deaths by providing enhanced monitoring, oxygen therapy, and specialized care for critically ill patients.

The Central hospitals Acting director Saulos Nyirenda described the facility as a game changer in service delivery, emphasizing the role it will play in efficiently treating patients.

Nyirenda said: “Before this facility, we had to improvise using a room with inadequate resources. This Standard Bank refurbished facility will help improve services”

The handover marks a public-private partnership milestone between the health ministry and the Standard Bank as the country continues pushing toward to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3, which includes reducing the global maternal mortality ratio.