Mist over K3.6bn Nkhata Bay Hospital

There is uncertainty over the opening of the new Nkhata Bay District Hospital with Malawi Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe claiming to be ignorant of why construction has stalled since last year.

The minister made a surprise fact-finding tour of the K3.6 billion health facility on Tuesday, but was welcomed by marked silence—save for his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) praise-singers—which has been lingering since construction works stopped last year.

At stake is delivery of quality health care services which were supposed to commence with the modern hospital’s official commissioning that government keeps postponing—with the latest projection being next month.

When asked, Gondwe said the on-and-off construction project will be complete by the end of this year.

Nkhata Bay district health officer Albert Mkandawire said outstanding works include completion of a road network and a theatre for obstetrics.

Since last year, chiefs in Nkhata Bay have been pressing for partial opening of the facility while it awaits the resumption of work for final touches.