K300m Mzimba vaccine store nears completion

 Deputy Minister of Health Halima Daud has expressed optimism that the K300 million Mzimba District Hospital vaccine store project will be completed in two months.

Speaking on Tuesday during an inspection tour of health projects in the Northern and Central regions, she said the facility has been using a vaccine store at Mzuzu Central Hospital.

Said Daud: “The progress is good. I am so excited. The project is important. The hospital uses Mzuzu Central Hospital vaccines store.

“However, with this facility, it is going to be easy to keep the vaccines. Additionally, it will be easy for the surrounding health centres to collect the vaccines.”

Mzimba District Council director of health and social services Prince Chirwa said transferring vaccines from Mzuzu has been costly to the hospital.

“This project is expected to be completed in two months and it should be functional by then. What remains now is fixing windows, painting and roofing,” he said.

Chirwa said the facility will serve a population of at least 750 000 in the district.

The initiative is part of the Expanded Programme of Immunisation Cold Room Buildings project funded by GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance.

It is also being implemented at Central Medical Stores Trust in Lilongwe, Zomba Community Hospital and Mangochi District Council