Health centre runs for 10 years without water

Chikande Health Centre in Ntcheu-Bwanje South has been operating for 10 years without running water after unidentified people vandalised pipes in 2010.

In an interview, the facility’s in-charge Mphatso Dzenza said the development has negatively affected its hygiene.

“It is challenging to help patients in the absence of water because the facility has a maternity wing that needs water,” he said.

Dzenza also said the area has registered two Covid-19 cases.

“So, the facility needs water to enhance hand-washing,” he said.

Allena Owen, a guardian at the maternity wing, said they travel long distances to a communal borehole to fetch water.

“We appeal to authorities to solve the problem,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ntcheu-Bwanje South legislator Mwisho Alexander Chilikumtima has launched a K5 million water project under the Constituency Development Fund.

He said the project will reinstall water pipes at the health centre.

“However, we should all come together irrespective of our political affiliations to embrace the project and other initiatives to develop our area,” said Chilikumtima.

The legislator has also handed over an ambulance to ease mobility challenges in the area.

Group village head Namboya pledged that his subjects will take care of the water pipes in the area.

The facility serves a population of 19 700 people from traditional authorities Ganya, Makwangwala and Sub-Traditional Authority Mkutumula in the district.