Bvumbwe Health Centre in Thyolo District is facing a shortage of gloves and safe water to carry out its operations effectively, it has emerged.
The challenges were highlighted on Saturday when Thyolo district commissioner Noel Dakamau visited the facility to appreciate service delivery.
A guardian, Grace Sikweya, said the problems were posing health risks to patients and guardians.
She said: “Besides shortage of water and gloves, expectant mothers are sleeping on the floor due to lack of beds.
“Nurses who were on night duty on Friday failed to properly examine a pregnant woman because they did not have gloves.”
Another guardian, Grace Chinkwita, attributed the poor hygiene to shortage of water in the wards after Southern Region Water Board (SRWB) allegedly disconnected supply to the facility.
She said: “The problems at this hospital are countless. You know that for a woman to be properly attended to, water is crucial.
“But here we rely on a borehole at the facility, which is difficult because when we come here we do not bring equipment to store water.”
Chinkwita urged Thyolo District Council and other well-wishers to address the challenges.
In his remarks, Dakamau said the visit was crucial as it helped his office to quickly respond to the problems at the facility.
He said: “I have noted the problems the facility is facing such as uncompleted maternity wing, lack of water and shortages of equipment, including gloves.
“I hope this will be mitigated as I am holding talks with SRWB to reconnect water to the facility and I will ask Thyolo District Hospital to supply the gloves.”
Besides the challenges, the maternity wing, constructed 10 years ago, is not yet operational due to a dispute between the contractor and the government over payment.
