High water bills choke service delivery

Karonga district acting director of health and social services David Sibale has appealed to well-wishers and partners to help in settling unpaid water bills.

The official made the appeal on Christmas Eve when Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Mungasulwa Mwambande cheered the  sick and donated food items to five health facilities in the district.

“The debt is hampering service delivery in the district’s 22 health facilities as the annual government funding of K199 million is not sufficient.

“We need a budget of about K250 million a month to cater for maintenance, fuel, utility bills and food,” he said.

However, Sibale appreciated the deputy minister’s gesture.

Lusungu Msompha, a patient in the antenatal ward, described the gift as double celebration as she had just delivered a baby girl.

Mwambande, who is also Karonga North legislator, said he felt obliged to visit the sick as part of Christmas celebrations.

“As a Karonga resident, I decided to share with the sick the little that I have so that I put a smile on patients’ face during this festive season,” he said.

Mwambande donated a packet of sugar and a loaf of bread to each of the 160 patients and 50 members of staff on duty in the health facilities.