Nkhotakota communities hail maternity wing project

People in Traditional Authority Mwansambo in Nkhotakota District have expressed excitement with the construction of a maternity wing at Mwansambo Health Centre.

Speaking in an interview on Monday, Mwafeyi Chimbatata, a community member from Chipafu Village, said previously pregnant women were facing challenges during delivery at the health centre.

She said the delivery room was so small that other pregnant women were referred to Nkhotakota District Hospital, about 70 kilometres away.

Chimbatata said the maternity wing brings hope for improved medical attention at the clinic and will reduce birth-related complications.

“The new ward has enough space to allow many women to be assisted at the same time,” she said.

One of the expectant mothers at the facility, Mafunasi Lazalo, said referrals were a nightmare because of poor road network from the area to the M5 Road along the lakeshore.

“Besides the new structure being spacious, it is also built far from the out-patient department to ensure women’s privacy during delivery,” she said.

Nkhotakota District Council director of finance Khumbo Masankhula said they are waiting for the 2024/25 funding to procure equipment for the facility to start operating.

“We are sure that the funds will be available this month end,” he said.

Nkhotakota District Council constructed the K112 million maternity wing using Governance to Enable Service Delivery funds