Deputy Mayor opens modern clinic

• Dr Queen Dube, Chief of Health Services in the Ministry of Health;
• Members of the Patel family;
• Members of staff at Atlas Medical Centre;
• Invited guests;
• Members of the media;
• Ladies and Gentlemen

Today, we witness another milestone in our beautiful city. Today, we rewrite the history of medical service delivery in Blantyre City.

I am glad to be part of this auspicious occasion. Thank you for inviting me to this grand opening of Atlas Medical Centre.

Why am I excited about the opening of this medical facility?

I am delighted and confident that this hospital will radically improve the quality of service and infrastructure for patients.

Makwinja delivering his speech

Atlas Medical Centre will be of great benefit to the local community both in terms of the medical services that will be provided here and of course the employment opportunities that it will offer.

I am reliably told that although it has started with day time opening, very soon, it will offer 24 hours services.

Ladies and Gentlemen, to set up a medical facility of this kind is no mean achievement.

We are today witnessing the effort and achievement of the Patel family but which will touch many lives in our city and beyond.

I am told that the centre will provide among other services general practitioner clinic, a specialist clinic in hypertension, diabetes, kidneys, infectious diseases, pediatrics and general surgery.

Another exciting news is that it will provide diagnostic laboratory such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), cardiac tests among other specialized tests.

The centre has physiotherapy and a pharmacy that will store various types of drugs.

Ladies and Gentlemen, some of these services are the ones only a few privileged Malawians were accessing outside the country. Now, these services will be locally available. We are very grateful for that.

Let me appeal to the owners of the hospital to maintain the standards they have set out.

We have seen others raising high expectations at the beginning but few years down the line, they become just like any other health facility.

You have told us that your vision is to provide quality health care services for all members of society, use advanced and innovative health care technology and also provide affordable and equitable health care services.

Your acknowledgement that Malawi health care service has been faced with numerous obstacles over the years gives us hope and it is our prayer that you stick to this promise.

Mwakwinja together with Dr Queen Dube on his right and Dr Parth Patel on his left

Finally, I would like to pay tribute and congratulate the directors of Atlas Medical Centre for investing in serving and saving the lives of Malawians.

We look forward to reaping the fruits in terms of efficiency, client satisfaction and better patient relations.

We are optimistic that Atlas Medical Centre will lead to better health, better care and better lives for the people of Blantyre City.

I would like to conclude by thanking Dr Parth Patel for extending an invitation so that I can be here and speak as we celebrate the opening of this hospital.

I believe this new hospital will a great credit to Malawi’s health services and many thanks should go to everyone who has helped to make it possible.

To the management and staff, I wish you all the best as you embark on a life-saving mission.

With these few remarks, it is now my singular honour and privilege to declare Atlas Medical Centre officially opened.

I thank you all for your kind attention and may God bless you.