K20m health centre under construction in Mzuzu

Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority has embarked on a K20 million project to build  a health centre at Zolozolo Township in Mzuzu to decongest Mzuzu Central Hospital (MCH) and its satellite health centre.

Mzimba North, which includes Mzuzu, has no district hospital which exerts pressure on MCH.

In an interview during  a progress inspection tour, the authority’s director of operations Dave Saeluzika said the new clinic is expected to decongest other hospitals in the city.

He said the project follows a similar initiative at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantrye where they rehabilitated a building to have Gateway Clinic.

“Our aim is to decongest central hospitals because these are referral hospitals and not walk-in clinics. For instance, Gateway Clinic is serving its purpose by treating 300 patients in a day and that has had a positive impact on QECH,” said Saeluzika.

Mzuzu City Council acting chief executive officer Victor Masina said  the project is a realisation of their strategic plan which stipulates that every ward should have a clinic.

He said the facility will decongest  Mzuzu Health Centre which treats a lot of patients due to the introduction of the by-pass fee at the referral hospital.

Construction started in June and is expected to be completed by end of this year. In the second phase, the gaming authority is expected to construct two staff houses.