Madonna visits Malawi hospital

New York: Pop diva Madonna is set to visit Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi.

The 57-year-old singer will tour the hospital to see how the construction of the unit is going on, which is scheduled to open in early 2017, reported New York Daily News.

"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.

"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," she said.

The new unit funded by Raising Malawi, which Madonna set up in 2006 with Michael Berg will become home to the country's first pediatric intensive care unit and will also offer a 50-bed ward and a day clinic.

The hospital will have three new operating rooms, the unit will be able to double the amount of surgeries currently offered to children as well as provide them with care before and after their surgery.

The "Vogue" hitmaker has met with President Peter Mutharika and health minister Peter Kumpalume. She earlier visited Africa's largest slum with her two children Lourdes, and Rocco. PTI CORR