Atupele promises hospital in Phalombe
The United Democratic Front (UDF) says once voted into government in the May 20 Tripartite Elections it will build a district hospital in Phalombe, which despite being upgraded to a district status over 15 years ago.
UDF presidential hopeful AtupeleMuluzi said this on Saturday when he conducted whistle-stop tours in Phalombe North East and Phalombe East constituencies.
Atupele said access to good health facilities for Malawians is one of his main priorities and as the country will be celebrating 50 years of independence, the people of Phalombe deserve better just as other people other districts in the country.
“It is saddening to note that after 50 years of self rule, Phalombe has never had a district hospital. Health is a priority and every person has a right to good health. It is high time Phalombe had a district hospital just as its neighbour, Chiradzulu,” he said.
Atupele also said he will remove the coupon system and bring universal fertiliser subsidy so that everybody is able to purchase farm inputs.
Speaking at Nambazo Health Centre ground in Phalombe North East Constituency, Group Village Head (GVH) Nambazo commended Atupele for his initiative to reach to the people of the area irrespective of the bad roads.
Nambazo commended plans to bring a district hospital to the area and pleaded with him to include a cellphone network tower to the area in his plans for easy communication.
Phalombe hospital construction has been a bone of contention since 2010/2011 budget allocation, where over K300 million was reportedly spent on the project, yet there is nothing on the ground.
Last year, Phalombe community members presented a six-point petition to the district commissioner’s office over lack of adequate medical facilities due to the absence of a district hospital in their district.
The petition also called upon government, through the president, to clarify on issues concerning issues of the numerous allocations that have been made in the national budget since 2005 towards building of a district hospital in the district.
