Dr. Jessie Kabwila, Minister of Higher Education, commended Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) for its commitment to excellence and urged the institution to continue its pursuit of high standards.
She made the remarks during her inaugural visit at the university that underscored the government’s commitment to fostering academic excellence and innovation within the nation’s higher education system.
KUHeS, renowned for its dedication to producing highly skilled healthcare professionals and conducting groundbreaking research, served as an ideal showcase for the Minister’s vision.
In her remarks the minister commended the innovation and excellence showcased at the university as stated in its mission and vision.
“This is indeed a place of excellence. This an institution that has honoured Kamuzu from his name to his ways of doing things. The generation we have now just know the challenges and shortcomings of Dr Kamuzu Banda they do not know the ‘Kamuzuizim’ that built this country.
“I am happy to have witnessed the excellent work that is being done at this university, “the university that God blesses the most”. You are doing a good job and when I meet the President, I will tell him KUHeS is doing amazing work and they need our support in ways that we can,” she said.
The minister further said she will soon be tabling education bill in Parliament which among others aims at harmonising the higher education systems in the country.
“There is need for us operate under one bill hence my interest in tabling the Higher Education Bill. I would like for the universities to support that it helps stay aligned and work on improving the quality of higher education in the country,” she said.
KUHeS Vice Chancellor Professor Mac Mallewa pledged to continue striving for excellence and producing competitive professionals in the health sector for the betterment of the country.
“We are so delighted that she visited us and it is timely for the higher education institutions to have a ministry purely focusing on them. Here at KUHeS we will work with the ministry to achieve quality education standards in the country.
“At our heart is the need to establish a pharmaceutical company that should curb issues of counterfeit and fake drugs that is affecting our country. We hope one day this dream will be achieved,” he said.
The minister toured the state-of-the-art facilities—from the revitalized Molecular Immunology and Microbiology Labs to the impressive Blantyre to Blantyre Lab and the rising structure of the new administration building—Dr. Kabwila was visibly moved by the institution’s commitment to progress.