Govt to build 15 health centres, nurses’ houses

Government says it will from this year start the construction of 15 health centres nationwide as a commitment to improving health service delivery.

In an interview in Ntchisi on the sidelines of a K722 million ($1,312,727) health package donation from the Japanese government, Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume said funds for the project have already been sourced and designs worked out.

The minister said each health facility will cost between K75 million ($136,363) and K85 million ($154,545).

Kumpalume also said as part of the same project, government will also construct 140 houses to accommodate nurses in rural areas.

He said the ministry also plans to build 60 flats at central hospitals in the cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba to house nurses and doctors.

Said Kumpalume: “In this way, we are trying to fill the human resource gap. Nurses and doctors will only get attracted to work where they have good accommodation, electricity and also water.”

Malawi has one of the highest doctor to patient and nurse to patient ratios in its resource-constrained public hospitals.