Medical professionals and Malawi Red Cross Society representatives have asked government to invest in emergency stations across the country and strengthen multi-agency preparedness to various disasters to ensure swift response during emergencies.
Giving her testimony in Mzuzu yesterday to the Parliamentary Ad-hoc Committee probing the June 10 2024 military plane crash that killed former Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others, Mzuzu Central Hospital (MCH) clinical care and trauma nurse Shidah Kanyika made the first call.
She was accompanied by former MCH director general John Chipolombwe and anaesthetist Bright Mtambo. The trio was summoned to explain their experiences from June 10 and 11 2024 search and rescue operations.
In her recommendations, Kanyika said the centres should be established at national, regional and district levels, especially along the Mzuzu-Lilongwe M1.
She said the investment should include reliable communication centres which can function in places with poor network coverage, emergency transport equipped with essential drugs, oxygen, suction, immobilisation and communication equipment.
Said Kanyika: “Based on my observations, investment should include personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, gowns, coveralls, eye protection, boots and disinfectants stocked in sufficient quantities for responders, trauma kits, airway equipment, resuscitation equipment, triangle tags and supplies for mass casualty management.”
In his testimony, Malawi Red Cross communications specialist Felix Washon said challenges faced during search and rescue for the plane such as limited equipment, bad weather, tough terrain and emotional strain highlighted the need to strengthen
national search and rescue capacity. Washon, who is also Media Institute of Southern Africa Malawi Chapter chairperson, stressed the need to increase annual funding allocation to disaster preparedness, saying Red Cross needs at least over K1 billion to effectively execute its work.
Kalulu during the meeting. | Ralph Mvona
In response, committee vice-chairperson James Mpunga assured that they had taken note of the recommendations, saying “the health committee of Parliament was also aware of the challenges”.
Today, the committee will visit Nthungwa, the crash site, to hear on-site testimonies from MCH medical personnel and officers from various agencies, including Malawi Defence Force, Malawi Police Service and Airport Fire Services.
Recommendat ions in an investigative report by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation said the Commander of the Malawi Air Force should ensure that aero-medical data of its individual flight crew members are up-to-date and copies of the latest certificates are stored in their respective military units at all times
