Malawi: Coronavirus

(asked on 25th January 2021) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support he is providing to the Government of Malawi to help it respond to the covid-19 pandemic.


Answered by
James Duddridge Portrait
James Duddridge
This question was answered on 28th January 2021

The UK was the first donor to support the Government of Malawi's Covid-19 response in March 2020, and we have provided a total of £7.8 million. That funding has helped to improve testing, screening and health services at points of entry to the country. It increased treatment capacity through supporting the establishment of eight emergency treatment units as well as the procurement of medical and laboratory supplies. That includes PPE which, combined with training for health workers, ensured safe and continuous delivery of other essential health services. Our funding also assisted with the establishment of a new oxygen plant at Malawi's national referral hospital in Lilongwe, and the provision of 174 portable oxygen concentrators for distribution to remoter areas. The oxygen plant was opened in December 2020 and has a peak capacity of 800 litres per minute.

The UK has also facilitated PPE provision and technical support at Malawi's border posts, which is helping to keep border staff safe and allowing the fast-tracking of essential goods. Our support to public health communications has helped to reach more than 10 million Malawians, increasing their awareness and understanding of Covid-19, and dispelling myths, rumours and stigma.

Reticulating Splines