Maternity facility impresses ministry
Ministry of Local Government Principal Secretary James Chiusiwa has expressed satisfaction with Mnema Maternity Wing constructed in Traditional Authority Makanjira in Salima District.
He said this on Tuesday when he visited the district to appreciate the progress of Governance to Enable Service Delivery (Gesd)-funded projects.
Chiusiwa, who is Gesd steering committee chairperson, said he was pleased with Salima District Council for constructing the maternity wing within the specified budget.
He said: “When projects have been implemented, there are certain accessories that are required to make it operational. As such, we want councils to include all necessary things, so that when the project is completed, communities should start using it.”
The K160 million project also comprises an incinerator, ash pit, toilets and water system.
Salima district commissioner Grace Chirwa Kanyimbiri said they implemented the project to promote safe motherhood in the area.
“We learned that the area experiences a high number of maternal deaths,” she said.
Salima District Council chairperson Katoweka Chifungo also echoed Kanyimbiri’s sentiments that the council considered challenges people faced in the area to access healthcare services to construct the facility.
“People were accessing healthcare services from Khombedza Health Centre, about 20 kilometres away,” he said.
Chifungo said Kambwiri Police Unit project was another project the district earmarked for implementation under the 2020/21 Gesd funds, but they opted for the maternity wing to promote safe motherhood in the area.
Elinati Joseph, a community member, said some pregnant women delivered with the help of traditional birth attendants due to long distance to Khombedza Health Centre.
“We will also be able to get under-five services for our children nearby,” she said.
Gesd is a five-year Government of Malawi Project implemented by National Local Government Finance Committee with funding from the World Bank.
