Press Trust calls for collaboration

in Mothers Day Fun Run

ress Trust Chief

Executive Officer
(CEO) PATRICK
M H A N G O
recently underscored
the
Trusts
commitment to helping
reduce maternal deaths
in the country through
a programme run by
Nation
Publications
Limited
(NPL)
annually,
to
this
end. The Mothers
Day Fun Run raises
millions of Kwacha for
district hospitals, with
emphasis on providing
modern equipment in
maternity wings. NPLs
Marketing
Manager
ALBERT BANDA had
a chat with the Press
Trust CEO on this
matter. Following are
excerpts:
QUESTION (Q): Please
tell us; what picture do
people have when they
hear of Press Trust?
ANSWER
(A): We
believe
the
general
perception of public
is that the Trust is
belongs to them and is
their reliable partner in
development. To date,
the Trust has donated
billions of kwachas to
literally all districts in
Malawi. Press Trust has
an open-door policy and
anyone is allowed to
request for assistance,
so long it meets the
criteria for funding. It is
not surprising, therefore,
that the Trust has reached
out to the remotest areas
of the country. With
this
demand-driven
approach,
Malawians
get a sense of ownership
and embrace the Trust
as their own. Indeed,
this was the intention
when the late President,
Ngwazi Dr. Hastings
Kamuzu Banda, founded
the Trust in 1982.
Q: Press Trust has been
and continues to be a
strategic partner of the
Mothers Day Fun Run
initiative, by Nation
Publications
Limited
(NPL), that promotes
safe motherhood in
government hospitals.
Would you please tell us
why you are motivated
to continue supporting
this initiative?
A: Health is one of the
key priority funding

Press Trust trustee Dr Kayambo (R) handsover a dummy cheque (2013 Mothers Day Fun Run) to
NPLs CEO Mbumba Banda (L) while Press Trust CEO Patrick Mhango looks on
areas of Press Trust. The
Trust has funded several
infrastructure projects in
the sector, in almost all
districts in the country.
The Trust has also made
several donations of
medical equipment to
various health facilities
in Malawi. Realising
that women are life
givers, and that no
woman should die after
giving birth, Trustees
thought of coming in
and intervening in trying
to decrease maternal
deaths in the country,
particularly
in
rural
areas. Indeed, with the
initiative conceived by
NPL, Trustees saw the
Mothers Day Fun Run
as a perfect opportunity
to contribute towards
tackling rising maternal
deaths
through
the
provision of important
equipment in public
hospitals.
Q:
How does the
strategic plan of Press
Trust fit into NPLs
Mothers Day Fun Run
initiative?
A: One of the programmes
in the strategic plan is
to strengthen our social
projects
portfolio.
Under this programme,
a
prominent
subcomponent is to explore
possibilities for working
in
partnership
with

to the alleviation of this

problem.

Expectant mother on Oxygen Concentrator

other
development
partners. In this regard,
the Fun Run initiative
fits perfectly well with
our plans of developing
more partnerships, both
local and international,
with the ultimate aim
of
benefiting
more
Malawians.
Q: What would be your
comment on the previous
Mothers Day Fun Run
activities and how do you
rate their impact ?
A: The previous event
was colourful and an
overall success. A total
record sum of money

was
raised
which
was used to purchase
equipment which was
then donated to Mchinji
District Hospital and this
was made possible by
kind contributions from
different stakeholders.
The
District
Health
Officer
for
Mchinji
alluded to inadequate
equipment as one of the
main challenges facing
the hospital. We have got
no doubt, therefore, that
the event contributed

Q:
Mothers
Day
Fun Run is executed
in
a
partnership
arrangement
in
addressing the plight
mothers and new borns
face in government
hospitals. How do you
look at the partnership
concept? Do you think
there is a need for us
to improve and, if so,
where?
A:
The
partnership
concept developed by
NPL is a very brilliant
one, indeed. In this day
and age, partnerships
are the way to go, as
they ensure that more
development is achieved
by more stakeholders
in a less costly manner.
Partnerships also ensure
that assistance reaches
out to a wider scope of
beneficiaries.
In terms of improvement,
yes, there is always room
to do things in a better
way. The first is for NPL
to cast its nets wider in
the corporate world, so
that new partners join
the noble initiative. There
is also room to increase
visibility and publicity of
long-standing
partners
to the cause. Otherwise,
we say congratulations to
NPL for a job well done
this far over the years.

Q: In October, 2016,
NPL takes the Mothers
Day Fun Run initiative
to Mzimba, in aid of
the
Mzimba District
Hospital and its 24
health centres. What
message do you have
to
individuals
and
organisations towards
this mammoth task,
whose target is over
K87 Million?
A: A woman is the heart
of a nation and, as such,
her life ought to be
protected. As Press Trust,
we have visited hospitals
that benefited from this
initiative and the results
are overwhelming. I,
therefore, urge individuals
and companies to join
hands and contribute
handsomely
towards
saving and improving
lives of women and
children
in
Mzimba
District.
Q: Anything else you
would like to say on
this initiative?
A: The initiative is very
good and fundamental in
a national drive towards
achieving zero maternal
deaths
in
Malawi.
Mothers play a vital role
in the development of a
nation and, hence, their
lives ought to be well
safeguarded. Press Trust
will continue supporting
mothers in this country.