Community members in Traditional Authority Luangwa in Chitipa District have asked authorities to upgrade the health post in the area to a health centre to reduce distance patients cover to Misuku Health Centre.
In an interview on Sunday, Chipya Health Post Management Committee chairperson Mathews Kayange said the situation was forcing women to deliver with the help of traditional birth attendants.
He said motorcycle operators charge K40 000 to take a pregnant women to Misuku Health Centre.
upgraded to a health centre. I Jordan Simeon-Phiri
Said Kayange: Community leaders formulated by-laws that fine pregnant woman K50 000 for home deliveries but it is not working due to poverty as people cannot raise K40 000 for transport to Misuku.
“This is why we appeal to authorities to construct a health centre to enable people access medical care within reach.”
He said the situation was also affecting learners at Namtegha Community Day Secondary School who travel 60 kilometres to Misuku for services.
“There are at least 8 000 people in the area who struggle to access healthcare. In addition, the current health post is not connected to power, so we cannot store drugs and vaccines,” said Kayange.
On his part, Mwangulukulu Village Development Committee chairperson Charles Mbisa said the community was ready to provide 25 percent of building materials such as dambo sand and bricks.
Mary Msukwa, a mother of four, said life was hard for expectant mothers who cannot meet transportation costs to Misuku Health Centre.
“The appeal for a health centre is genuine. Accessing healthcare service is a nightmare. Life becomes more miserable during the rainy season as the road becomes impassible,” she said.
Chitipa district director of health services Jollings Kasondo said he needed time to check with the district’s facility mapping plan to see if his office has plans to construct a health centre in the said area.
