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 The Mercy James Institute for Paediatric
Surgery and Intensive Care located in Blantyre, Malawi's
second-largest city, is the first such facility built in the
country by Madonna's charity Raising Malawi.
"We will ensure that not only will it be a world-class
children's hospital, but also a superior center of learning.
This is as much about healing as it is about empowerment,"
Madonna said at the hospital's official opening.
The singer adopted Malawian children David Banda and Mercy James
in 2006 and 2009 respectively and twins Esther and Stella Mwale
earlier this year. She has two other children, Lourdes and
Rocco, from previous relationships.
Speaking at the event, Mercy James drew applause and ululation
from the crowd after saying: "Many kids and many lives will be
saved. Thank you mum, you're the bomb."
Madonna established the non-profit Raising Malawi charity in
2006 to provide health and education, particularly for girls.
The charity has built 10 schools in Malawi, according to its
website.
Madonna criticized Malawi's slow pace of law reform, saying it
nearly prevented her from adopting Mercy James.
"It was not an easy battle," said Madonna as her voice cracked
with emotion as she stood near her daughter.
"The judge refused me because I was recently divorced. We hired
lawyers, went to the Supreme Court. But I never gave up, I never
backed down," added the 58-year-old, who previously stirred anger
among some Malawians as they felt the government allowed her to
skirt laws that ban non-residents from adopting.
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"I fought for Mercy and won. We fought for this hospital and won.
Love conquers all."
Madonna then danced to a local song with Malawi's first lady
Gertrude Mutharika.
Mutharika, who attended the hospital's launch, said "Madonna is a
symbol of a motherly spirit" and that the hospital was Malawi's
"national pride."
The health minister Peter Kumpalume said the hospital will help save
lives of newborns in a country where infant mortality is still one
of the highest in the world, but steadily declining.
"For our part, we will fully support the facility, we are bringing
in doctors and drugs," Kumpalume told Reuters.
Malawi's infant mortality rate declined to 42 deaths per 1,000 live
births in 2016 from 135 deaths in 1992, government data shows.
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