People drilled to monitor health facilities’ projects

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) has urged community leaders in Paramount Chief Kyungu in Karonga District to monitor infrastructure projects running in health facilities in their areas.

Speaking yesterday at the end of a two-day public expenditure tracking training and advocacy for trainer of trainers, CHRR project coordinator Modester Ramondi said monitoring projects will promote transparency and accountability in health centres.

“We are targeting community members around six health centres of Mlare, Lupembe, Katili, Mwenilondo, Mpata and Kasoba where we noted many stalled projects,” she said.

Ramondi said community members will learn about budget tracking which will equip structures such as health centre management committees, village development committees and area development committee in tracking how public funds are used on health development projects.

“It is expected that once project structures acquire the knowledge, they shall ably follow the trail of resources, identify places of leakages and halt such malpractices,” she said.

In an interview, group village head Mwangolera said the training empowered them to monitor projects Karonga District Council is implementing in the area’s health facilities.

“Community members are complaining about shoddy works, lack of community engagement and delay to complete some projects,” she said.

On her part, Katili health centre management committee vice-chairperson Martha Mwamlima said the training has motivated them to push for the installation of electricity and water at the area’s facility.

“For a long time, we have failed to push for the installation of electricity at the health facility for safe storage of drugs and running water to enhance sanitation,” she said.

With funding from Oxfam in Malawi, CHRR is implementing a Health Governance Project in Paramount Chief Kyungu in the district.