Demo looms at college of health sciences

Students at the Malawi College of Health Sciences (MCHS) Zomba Campus on Tuesday presented a letter to the city council seeking permission to stage a demonstration in the old capital over allocation allowances.

The students want management at their institution to raise their allocation allowances from the suggested K1 000 per day to not less than K1 200 per day.

They are also demanding the provision of hepatitis B vaccine which protects them from being infected with the disease, claiming they get highly exposed to blood and body fluids; hence, putting their lives at risk.

Since last Thursday, the students have been refusing to go for clinical practicals, arguing the amount is not enough to meet their needs.

Zomba City Council chief executive officer Charles Kalemba confirmed receiving the letter and promised to respond to it.

President of the students’ union, Christopher Kaonga, said in an interview on Tuesday, they will only go to clinical practicals after their demands are met in full.

“The suggested amount of K1 000 is not enough. We will not be able to trigger into fray with lavish things at the markets owing to the devaluation of the kwacha currency.

“We are supposed to use the same money for renting a house, buy food, pay for electricity and some essential household endowments,” said Kaonga.

However, later in the afternoon, the students were ordered to either go for clinical services or leave the institution. Plain clothed and police officers in uniform were seen loitering around the college campus observing the situation as the students held a caucus on the way forward.

Meanwhile, the students were seeking a High Court injunction against college management’s order.