Amref Health Africa has handed over sanitary facilities to Ntaja, Kawinga, Chikweo and Nyambi health centres in Machinga.
The facilities, which include bathrooms for patients and staff, incinerators, toilets, placenta pits, ash pits and solar-powered water systems, have been implemented under Deliver Life 2 Project which seeks to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths in the district.
Speaking on Friday after handing over the facilities, Amref Health Africa Deliver Life 2 Project officer Charles Chirwa said they wanted to improve the condition in the facilities.
She said: “We are implementing the project to address challenges related to water, sanitation and hygiene [Wash] issues in thefacilities.
“Previously, pregnant women were shunning delivering at the health facilities due to poor sanitation.”
On his part, Machinga District Wash coordinator Fortune Chilongo commended Amref for constructing the sanitary facilities.
He said: “The facilities will enhance quality healthcare services at the four health centres.
“Again, the sanitary facilities will improve the working environment for health workers.”
Chilongo asked health community structures to work with the health workers to take care of the facilities.
In his remarks, group village head Michongwe from Ntaja encouraged pregnant women to visit the health facilities.
“You have no excuse to shun the health centres for delivery because they now have sanitary facilities,” he said.
Amref Health Africa is implementing the Deliver Life 2/Wash project in collaboration with WaterAid Malawi with funding from Scottish Government and Scottish Water.
