Communities raise K10m for Covid-19 quarantine

Community members in Mzuzu under Mulezi Health Trust have raised K10 million to construct a Covid-19 quarantine centre at Wezi Clinic premises.

Speaking on Saturday, the trust’s chairperson Arnold Shaba said the facility, despite being at a private clinic, will provide free Covid-19 medical support.

He said: “We raised money through contributions from members and well-wishers.

“The facility will be operating in partnership with the district health office.”

Shaba said they have completed some works at the centre.

“So far, we have installed gas cylinder tanks and we have recruited a medical doctor,” he said.

Shaba said the centre is scheduled to start its operations this month end.

He, however, appealed to well-wishers for more funds.

With this centre in operation, Mzuzu will have two Covid-19 quarantine centres. The other one is at Mzuzu Central Hospital.

On his part, Wezi Clinic director Douglas Lungu, who is also Mzuzu City Covid-19 Task Force chairperson, commended the trust for the initiative.

“The initiative will help the city’s efforts to contain the further spread of the pandemic,” he said.

On May 2, angry protesters in Mzuzu vandalised  Football Association of Malawi’s Luwinga Technical Development Centre following a Ministry of Health decision to turn the facility into a quarantine centre for Covid-19 cases.

So far, Malawi has registered 65 Covid-19 cases with three deaths while Mzuzu has registered three.