Malawi Equity Health Network (Mhen) is proposing the establishment of a Public Health Emergency Fund to respond to health needs during emergencies such as disasters.
In an interview yesterday, Mhen executive director George Jobe said the country should draw lessons from the emergencies experienced so far such as Covid-19, cholera and cyclones, suggesting the fund could be a budget line under the health sector.
He observed that the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) mostly attends to the livelihoods of those affected during disasters by providing food and shelter and that the health sector needs its own response package to address the specific healthcare needs.
Jobe said: “In 2022, the country was hit by cholera after the national budget had already been drafted and was under debate in Parliament.
“The disaster following Tropical Storm Freddy is also happening when budget estimates were already presented in Parliament and it is not easy to revise the budget to factor in the changes.”
The health activist added that the health fund may cater for the much-needed chlorine, blood products, medical supplies, equipments, hiring of temporary health personnel to supplement shortages and logistics such as fuel for ambulances, among others.
“Someone can sleep on an empty stomach and be provided with food the next day but there are critical health needs that need prompt response or lives will be lost; hence, our recommendation for the fund,” said Jobe.
Commenting on the proposal, Parliamentary Health Committee on Health chairperson Mathews Ngwale, while agreeing with the recommendation, said the availability of funds is a determining factor.
He said: “My view is that the health sector should work fast in implementing health financing strategies and the Public Health Emergency Fund could be set up from some of the funds from the health financing strategies.”
In the proposed K3.87 trillion 2023/24 National Budget, the Ministry of Health has been allocated K330.18 billion.
Tropical Storm Freddy has emerged as the worst in terms of fatalities after the January 2015 floods which affected 1.1 million people, killing 106 and displacing 273 000 while 172 people were reported missing, according to a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment.
In January 2019, tropical cyclones Idai and Gombe affected 975 000 with 60 killed, 672 injured, 86 976 displaced and 288 371 houses destroyed in 13 districts.
Malawi was also hit by Tropical Cyclone Ana in January 2022 which affected 995 000, killed 46 and left 206 injured with 18 missing and 190 400 displaced.
