The pop diva is currently in the heart of Africa to visit a hospital’s children’s wing that her charity is funding.
Madonna has been in Malawi for a week during which she has met with President Peter Mutharika and health minister Peter Kumpalume. The Ray of Light singer, who has adopted two children from Malawi, visited the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital yesterday to view the pediatric unit her charity built whose construction started in May 2015 and is expected to open in early 2017.
“This new facility is the first pediatric surgery and intensive care unit in any Malawi hospital. It will have an enormous impact on saving the lives of children," said Madonna, in a statement to The Associated Press. "In addition to raising the quality and availability of health care, we are also preparing for the future by training more Malawian medical staff in specialized pediatric care."
It is the first time in nearly two years that Madonna has visited the country, after being embroiled in controversy for adopting Malawian children; David in 2006 and Mercy in 2009. Madonna was stripped of her VIP status by former president Joyce Banda in 2013 and accused her of being "uncouth" and wanting eternal gratitude from the impoverished country for adopting the two children.
But Banda was ousted in 2014 elections and the new president, Peter Mutharika, has moved to repair relations, saying "my government has always been grateful for the passion Madonna has for this country".
Madonna said she will continue to work to get the nearly finished children’s unit the staff and equipment needed. "It's going to be my responsibility to make sure that this place has the equipment and is fully operational on a regular basis, So I have a big job ahead of me. Wish me luck."
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