K339 million in the bag

UNIMA Receives Funds for PPE Project

The University of Malawi on 28th October, 2021 received K239 million to scale up its efforts in the fight against the further spread of Covid-19.

The Dean of Research who was present at the cheque presentation ceremony in Lilongwe received the funds from the Japanese Government through the UNDP for innovations aimed at supporting the Ministry of Health and the government of Malawi to fight against the spread of Covid-19 Pandemic.

The university has benefited from the grant under “Implementation of Increasing Covid-19 PPE Access in Malawi Project” which has been given to the University for following its PPE innovation project.

During the ceremony in which a cheque was presented to the University, Japanese Ambassador Satoshi Iwakiri said the grant was being provided under the Japanese supplementary budget and has been given to the University of Malawi in the context that fighting Covid-19 is a responsibility of everyone.

“It is in view of this that the project will boost domestic manufacturing of PPEs and other Covid-19 supplies”, he said.

He added that the project will strengthen Malawi’s capacity to become a regional supplier of anti-Covid-19 supplies in the near future.

Speaking at the same function, UNDP country representative Shigeki Komatsubara said the University of Malawi is expected to meet high production standards.

“We expect world class quality and strict adherence to production regulations. This expectation is not just for UNDP or the Government of Japan, but for every Malawian that will wear these facemasks, sanitise their hands, clean surfaces, or use any of the products you manufacture”, he said.

The funds are a grant to the University of Malawi and has also been extended to other public universities in the country.

It is expected that private sector participants will be included in the project and UNDP has floated a request for quotation to call for bids from the private sector to supply covid-19 products as well.