Act of Good Samaritans: Mvenya Family Shares Food with Patients at Dedza District Hospital Dedza

In an act of charity and kindness, the Mvenya family on January 1, 2026, shared food with patients and their guardians at Dedza District Hospital as part of New Year celebrations.

Speaking during the exercise, Mr. Pius Abel Mvenya Senior said Dedza District Hospital holds special meaning to his family, describing it as their home hospital.

“Despite coming from Thyolo, all my four children were born at this hospital. This has been our hospital,” he said.

He added: “We did this to honour the spirit of my late wife, the mother of my children, who used to visit this hospital to pray with the sick as part of her earthly ministry.”

One of the family members, Pius Abel Mvenya Junior, said their late mother had the welfare of the sick and the underprivileged at heart, adding that the family is determined to continue her charity work.

“As a family, we want to continue her work by helping people in times of need. We also plan to make this activity ongoing and extend support to chronically ill patients,” said Mvenya Junior, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Mulhako wa Alhomwe.

He added that if people born at the hospital took turns providing food, patients and guardians would receive food support daily, noting that the facility records up to 100 births on some days.

Dedza District Health Office Public Relations Officer Mr. Mwai Liabunya and Catering Assistant Mr. Chitsanzo Mangwalala commended the Mvenya family for the gesture, saying food remains one of the biggest challenges faced by patients and guardians.

“Food is a basic necessity, especially for the sick, as medicine is advised to be taken with food,” they said.

“However, many guardians struggle to balance patient care with the need to find food.”

The Mvenya family spent about K1.2 million to prepare meals for all wards at the hospital, which has an admission capacity of 280 beds. The food included rice, nsima, chicken, vegetables, fruits and soft drinks.