Drug shortages ‘surprise’ APM

President Peter Mutharika yesterday expressed surprise at reports of shortage of drugs in the country’s public hospitals, saying government has bought enough drugs recently.

Mutharika expressed the sentiments during a development rally he addressed at  Nyambadwe Primary School Ground in Blantyre Malabada Constituency a day after celebrating his 75th birthday.

Said the President: “The only problem is [that] I am not aware where the drugs are being stocked currently, but I am sure something is wrong somewhere.

“My plea to officials [in the health sector] is that they should make sure the drugs reach out to the intended people and that they do things with integrity.”

Drug shortages in public hospitals in recent years have been attributed to several factors, including pilferage as well as outstanding bills district health offices owe the Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST), the certified supplier of medical drugs and accessories in the public sector.

During the rally, the President also appealed to the public to support Malawi Police Service (MPS) in the fight against crime by reporting any criminals. He said MPS is doing a commendable job in the fight against crime in the country.

In an address monitored on taxpayer-funded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) television, Mutharika also urged senior Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials to make a contribution to MPS special fund which is used to reward informants. He said he personally contributed K3 million to the fund.

Mutharika implored Malawians to change their attitude if the country is to develop because, he observed that currently there is too much fighting which is “like taking a gun to kill a fly”.

Earlier, Vice-President Saulos Chilima called for intra-party unity, saying politics of  confrontation will not develop the country.

He also called on DPP members to avoid creating enemies within or outside the party as Mutharika, who is also DPP president, is not a judge and it is not in his duty to always be mediating.

In an apparently short but loaded speech, Chilima emphasised self-discipline, advising DPP members to desist from attacking those holding different views as the critics target Mutharika when hitting back.

It was Mutharika’s second development rally after holding another one in Thyolo last Sunday. n

Prisons chief tips govt on savings

ANDREW NYONDO

Correspondent

Malawi Prisons Service (MPS) says central government can save billions of kwacha by engaging prisoners in different projects and other income generating activities.

Speaking in an interview in Zomba on Wednesday, Chief Commissioner of Prisons  Kennedy Nkhoma said government is losing a lot of money as expenditure on services which can freely be offered by inmates in the country’s prisons.

He said his department has many prisoners talented in diverse skills such as carpentry, bricklaying, farming, mechanics and other areas from which government can economically benefit from and save expenses on labour.

Nkhoma said: “We have been seeing government making expenditures on issues such as furniture for its offices, food for hospitals, painting of its buildings and other services which may demand man power.”

He expressed optimism that his department could make over K15 billion annually and help government to save if it is given all the required resources to run some of the services.

Commenting on the idea, Ministry of Finance spokesperson Nations Msowoya welcomed the proposal as a good move which his ministry would consider.

Malawi has 28 prison establishments accommodating about 13 000 inmates jailed to be reformed so that they become useful citizens of the country upon expiry of their sentences. n