CENTRE IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE AFRICAN NATION 
FIRST PATIENTS ADMITTED JUNE 29, 2017

Madonna today announced the Mercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care will officially open on Tuesday, July 11th at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi.   

The Mercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care is the first unit of its kind in Malawi.  It is named for Madonna's Malawi-born daughter, Mercy James, and is developed in partnership with Madonna's charitable organization, Raising Malawi and the Malawian Minister of Health. The first patients were admitted on June 29, 2017.

"When you look into the eyes of children in need, wherever they may be, a human being wants to do anything and everything they can to help, and on my first visit to Malawi, I made a commitment that I would do just that," said Madonna.  "As we approach the opening of the Mercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care, I'd like to thank everyone who has joined me on this unbelievable journey. What started out as a dream for Malawi and her children has become a reality, and we couldn't have done it without your support."

Announced in November of 2014, The Mercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care is a state-of-the-art pediatric surgery and intensive care unit.  It will help Queen Elizabeth hospital double the number of surgeries performed on children each year and will increase the chance of survival after critical surgeries.  In addition to serving more children, this new facility will become a training center of excellence for Southern Africa, with more local doctors acquiring the skills needed to perform pediatric surgery. In a country with only four pediatric surgeons and 50% of the population under 15 years old, this new facility could make a significant difference in the lives of Malawian children.

"Malawi has enriched my family more than I could have ever imagined," added Madonna.  "It's important for me to make sure all my children from the country maintain a strong connection to their birth nation, and equally important to show them that together, humans have the power to change the world for the better."

In addition to being a world-class medical facility, The Mercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care will have extensive dedicated spaces making the time children spend in the hospital as comfortable as can be.  These spaces and elements include a playroom for children to be engaged and learn, an outdoor play structure and inspirational murals curated by Madonna and created by artists that she's brought to the country, and more.   

For more information on the Mercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care visit:  http://www.raisingmalawi.org/health

For more information on how to donate visit: http://donations.raisingmalawi.org 

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weareraisingmalawi www.raisingmalawi.org

About Madonna
Madonna is a global superstar artist, philanthropist, film director, businesswoman and mother. 

About Raising Malawi
Madonna founded Raising Malawi in 2006 to address the poverty and hardship endured by Malawi's orphans and vulnerable children. Raising Malawi partners with local organizations to provide Malawian children with critical resources including education and medical care. 
http://www.raisingmalawi.org