Activists blame govt on health care
Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for Development of the People (Cedep) have blamed government for failing to take health care as a priority.
In a joint press statement, the two organisations said they are concerned with negligence by government in taking care of public hospitals.
The statement which has been signed by CHRR acting executive director Timothy Mtambo and Cedep executive director Gift Trapence reads in part: “We would like to register our deep concern over the continued negligence towards public hospitals by the government. Certainly, revelations that almost 50 lives are lost to curable ailments a week at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) alone should send chills down the spines of those entrusted with running our health system.”
The statement further faulted government on its failure to improve lives of Malawians’ health care.
The statement adds: “So far, government has failed Malawians on health care big time. Just last week, the country witnessed yet another orgy of protests by the concerned KCH staff who petitioned government to resolve the drug and medical supplies crisis currently bedevilling the referral hospital.
“So pathetic is the crisis in our public hospitals that some nurses are forced to put on plastic papers to touch patients due to the shortage of gloves and simple things such as masks.”
CHRR and Cedep has, therefore, asked government to increase budgetary allocations to the Ministry of Health and make sure that it curbs mismanagement of public funds in civil service, including health sector.
