Dowa communities bemoan infant, maternal deaths
Communities from Bweya, Traditional Authority (T/A) Chakhaza in Dowa have decried rising infant and maternal deaths in their area and have taken an initiative to turn around the situation.
The communities have since constructed structures befitting a health centre and are waiting for Ministry of Health (MoH) to certify the centre.
Speaking on Friday during a meeting National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust organised, Bweya Citizen Forum chairperson Hilda Botomani said the area records high cases of maternal and neonatal deaths due to lack of a health facility.
She said: “The only health facilities near us are Kasese and Bowe which are about 25 or 30 kilometres away respectively. This creates problems, especially during the rainy season.
“As a possible solution, we constructed these buildings, including two staff houses just to entice government to assist us.”
Botomani appealed to government to recognise the centre and bring in medical personnel.
Mponela Rural Hospital in charge Frank Linzie, who was at the meeting, commended the people for showing commitment and passion in constructing the health centre.
He promised the people that he would take the issue to the District Health Office (DHO) which he said has a final say on such matters.
Nice Dowa district civic education officer Vincent Mbenjere said his organisation held the meeting to give people a chance to voice out issues that concern them. n
