Chakwera commissions Makanjira maternity facility
President Lazarus Chakwera has hailed the construction of Makanjira maternity facility dubbed Makanjira Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Neonatal (CEmONC) Facility as a “big deal” that will solve maternal and neonatal deaths in the area.
He said this yesterday at Makanjira Community ground in Mangochi District during the official launch of the project to construct the maternity facility set to benefit a catchment of 120 000 people.
The Embassy of Iceland is funding Mangochi District Council to implement the project to the tune of K2.5 billion for a period of one year.
Speaking after launching the project, Chakwera said despite a drop in cases of maternal and neonatal deaths, there is still need to implement interventions that ensure no death of mothers and children.
He said: “We should ensure that no woman or child loses lives by coming up with facilities that provide healthcare.”
The President said the construction of the facility will play a significant role in combating maternal and neonatal deaths, which was a serious concern among women from Makanjira.
“This health facility will significantly improve lives of about 53 000 women of child-bearing age. It will increase both access and provision of quality services among people,” said Chakwera.
He also took time to respond to the chiefs concern about the construction of Mangochi-Makanjira Road, saying he will construct it alongside the Mangochi-Malombe Road.
In his remarks, Traditional Authority (T/A) Makanjira said the construction of the maternity facility is a blessing to people in his area as it will help them access health services with ease.
“My people, especially pregnant women struggle to access referral health services at Mangochi District Hospital due to the bad condition of the road. Now, I have so many expectations that this facility will solve all the health challenges they face,” he said.
Makanjira also took advantage of the event to ask government to do all it can and construct the road to solve problems they face in pursuit of social amenities.
In his remarks, Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mangochi North, Benedicto Chambo (Democratic Progressive Party) also hailed the construction of the maternity facility, saying it will halt the maternal and neonatal deaths which are a menace due to lack a maternity facility.
Embassy of Iceland head of mission Inga Do’ra Pe’tursdottir said the initiative to support construction of the facility follows the relationship that exists between the embassy and Mangochi District Council.
“The Government of Iceland has been a partner for Mangochi District Council for over 35 years. We support the council in many interventions, one of them being the health sector.
“Therefore, in a bid to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths the area has been experiencing due to lack of a maternity facility, we have decided to help the council to erect this structure,” she said.
Pe’tursdottir disclosed that through their support they have constructed a maternity wing at Mangochi Hospital, Monkey-Rural Hospital, Lilja’s Fistula and One Stop Centre, 28 health posts in rural areas, 15 waiting homes, 38 staff houses and 10 rural maternity wards.
Among others, Makanjira Maternity will have a life-saving operating theatre, antenatal, labour and post-natal wards as well as a high dependency unit for newborns.
