Health centre operates for 35 years without power

Fulirwa Health Centre in Senior Chief Wasambo in Karonga District has operated for 35 years without electricity despite being located within four kilometres of Wovwe Hydro Power Station.

Speaking on Tuesday during a media tour the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of Karonga Diocese organised to appreciate challenges people are facing in the area, Fulirwa Health Centre management committee chairperson Ryack Kamendo said lack of power is affecting health service delivery at the facility.

He said: “This facility opened in 1988 and has operated without electricity and running water for the past 35 years despite having full wiring and plumbing system.

“Lack of electricity is affecting storage of drugs, vaccines and the maternity wing which is supposed to have a sterilisation machine as well as powering nebuliser machines for asthma patients.”

Wasambo Area Development Committee chairperson Happy Ndovi said they paid for the wiring of the facility and that what was remaining was to pay connection fee, which has been delayed by Escom.

“We budgeted for K168 000 which we were told that it is for single phaseconnection,” he said.

Escom public relations officer Peter Kanjere said they installed a transformer at Kapyere in May 2022, but it is not functioning as they are waiting for materials.

He said: “We will investigate the issue about the application which the authorities at Fulirwa Health Centre made before issuing them a quotation by the end of the week.

“We will also help the rest of the customers in the area with payment details.”