In a bid to further support the government’s effort in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, NICOGroup in conjunction with its partner, Sanlam Group, has donated hospital equipment worth K44 million to the Ministry of Health.

The equipment will be given to Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH), Mzuzu Central Hospital (MCH) and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (Qech) .

This follows several Covid-19 drives that NICO has been a part of since May 2020, when the group joined the Private Sector Response Initiative.

The donation is part  of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility. NICO Group Managing Director, Vizenge Kumwenda, said the group still sees the need to support more hospitals during the pandemic period.

“As concerned and responsive corporate citizens, NICO and Sanlam felt it necessary to continue stepping in and supporting the government in fight against Covid-19 and to improve the health facilities,” Kumwenda said.

He added that the company is continuing with giving out food items to identified vulnerable families.

The items donated are 20 bedside trolleys to KCH and MCH; Oxygen units to KCH and MCH and PPEs to KCH, MCH and Qech, bringing the money spent by Nico Group and its partners towards the pandemic, to date, to K90 million.

Director of Health Services at KCH, Jonathan Ngoma, thanked the firm for the donation. “It is very heart-warming to see just how much the private sector has helped us during this pandemic. We thank Nico Group and its partners for this donation which will assist us in this fight,” Ngoma said.

NICO is committed  to playing its role in the Covid-19 fight and believes that in unity,there is a greater chance in defeating the pandemic,  Kumwenda added.

BY REBECCA CHIMJEKA