First Lady donates to children’s ward

THE First Lady Cde Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday donated groceries worth $10 000 to the children’s ward at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo.

The donation made the festive season special for 85 children admitted to the ward.

The Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs, Cde Angeline Masuku, presented the donation which included rice, beans, salt, toys and blankets, on behalf of the First Lady.

“You find a mother who has given birth without any blanket to wrap the baby.

“These are people that used to work at factories that have been closed.

“We are not saying those who go to other hospitals are rich, but they are better off than people from high density suburbs,” she said.

“This donation is important because the First Lady has taught us that leaving donations at administration offices gives rise to corruption as some of the donations end up in wrong hands.”

Mpilo clinical director, Dr Solwayo Ngwenya, said the hospital was facing economic challenges which needed to be addressed by the Government.

“Mpilo hospital is catering for more than a million people coming from various places.

“Most of the people who come here are from poor backgrounds and are no longer working, so the Government should channel between five and $10 million a year to the hospital,” Dr Ngwenya said.

Last week, the First Lady said she had launched a national programme to assist vulnerable children in order to improve their livelihoods.

“We have launched the programme in Bulawayo and our next port of call is Binga in Matabeleland North and Gwanda in Matabeleland South.

“The programme will spread to all provinces in the country so that we reach out to as many children as we can,” she said at Thembiso Children’s Home in the city. — @MondelaC