The First Lady was honored with a Professorship in Public Health by the Peking University School of Public Health in November 2017. As part of the acceptance of the accolade, the University prepared a grand ceremony for her to address the students of the institution. 

Among the invited dignitaries at the function which took place at the university's campus were Prof Qimin Zhan, Executive Vice President of Peking University, Prof Qingyue Meng, Dean Of School Of Public Health, Jappie Mhango , Malawi’s Minister of Health and Population, Martha Ngwira , Malawi’s Deputy Minister Of Education, and Dr Robert Egolet, Head Of Peking Research In Malawi.

In her address, Professor Mutharika expressed gratitude to the president of the People’s Republic of China and the leadership of Peking University .

The First Lady, who is also the Patron of her charity Beam which focuses on girl-child education, environment and hygiene, also thanked President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika for his inspiration both as President and husband.

After the extraordinary award presentation ceremony, the First Lady visited the university’s third hospital to appreciate the different innovations and advancement that the hospital has made and what it does in a bid to provide necessary support and care to those in need .

It was here that she was pleased to take note of what the facility is doing in breaking the chains of infertility through different innovations like in vitro fertilization.

This is in line with the First Lady’s task as the Ambassador of Merck, “More than a Mother” Initiative – which aims at breaking infertility stigma in Malawi.