Thousands of lives may be at risk this coming rainy season should a cholera outbreak strike Lilongwe following revelations that Bwaila Hospital is not equipped to combat the disease, The Nation has learnt.
This follows reports that the facility has been getting erratic funding for several months, with November’s allocation still to come.
The move has hugely paralysed health service delivery at the hospital with the facility running out of stock of essential drugs.
Hospital in Lilongwe
The hospital—whose monthly allocation is pegged around K50 million—has had it trimmed to half from August this year.
In an interview on Wednesday, Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume described the development as unfortunate for a hospital of Bwaila’s status.
According to records at Lilongwe District Health Office (DHO), Bwaila Hospital is one of the largest referral facilities in the country, with a catchment area of about 18 000 people.
Said Kampalume: “I have been appalled by the reports of the meagre funding to the hospital. We ought to do better than this.”
The minister pledged to engage Treasury to ensure the hospital operates at full capacity again.
Ministry of Finance spokesperson Nations Msowoya said Treasury will finalise funding for all district hospitals by November 30 2015. n
