Bedbugs worry Karonga District Hospital guardians
Guardians at Karonga District hospital have asked the facility’s officials to disinfect the premises to kill bedbugs that are giving them sleepless nights.
Apart from the bedbugs, guardians are also calling upon community leaders to install electricity at the shelter.
In an interview on Saturday when Great North, an organisation that is advocating for development in the Northern Region, visited the hospital, a guardian Collida Mwambinga said sanitation and hygiene at the shelter was compromised.
She said: “It is unfortunate that the hospital premises are infested with bedbugs. On top of that, the toilets’ sanitation is compromised due to lack of moppers.
“And again, the premises are not fenced that puts us at risk of attacks by thugs and beggars.”
On his part, the guardian shelter’s chairperson Joseph Sinkhonde appealed to the five members of Parliament and 10 ward councillors join hands to assist and make the guardian shelter habitable.
“This needs political will and commitment. This is a place for women and yet it is not fenced, no electricity and they are subjected to walking long distance from the hospital to this shelter. Let elected leaders agree to use District Development Fund [DDF] to work on these challenges.”
However, Karonga District Hospital administrator Clement Gonthi said in an interview on Tuesday the responsibility to fence and install electricity at the shelter lies in the hands of the council.
In a separate interview, Karonga District Council chairperson Steven Simsokwe said plans to have the facility fenced and electrified are underway.
