MP, community urged to take to task DC, DHO
Mangochi South Member of Parliament (MP) Lillian Patel and the community in Traditional Authority (T/A) Bwananyambi’s rea in the district have been asked to organise themselves to take to task the district commissioner (DC) and district health office (DHO) for not deploying staff to Mbalama Health Centre.
Built in 1999, the health facility has been operating without the services of a nurse or medical assistant despite having five decent houses for the medics.
yaThe National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust recently held an interface meeting at the health centre with community members to find solutions.
Speaking during the interface meeting, Mangochi Nice district civic education officer Turner Banda said communities’ rights to health are not met.
He said issues of health are delicate in nature and require careful handling.
Said Banda: “Issues of health are non-negotiable. There are other rights, which can easily be neglected or overlooked and things can keep going, but not health issues.”
He said it is against this background that Nice will continue holding interface meetings with service providers, duty bearers and community members to empower them to know their roles and responsibilities to participate in development activities.
Patel said it pains her to see people dying from curable illnesses simply because there are no staff at the health centre.
Councillor for Chipungu Ward, Clement Dzimbiri, said they would petition the office of DC and DHO on the development.
