Poor health conditions worry Mchinji health officers

Some health officers at Kochilira Health Centre in Mchinji District have said poor conditions at the facility is affecting effective delivery of health services.

They said this last week during the tour at the health centre by Member of Parliament for Mchinji West Constituency Jephthah Mwale where he donated K100 000 to some of the patients.

Clinical officer at the facility Ephraim Mankhwala said electricity is among the key challenges.

He said the health facility does not have a backup generator and for a year it has failed to provide food to patients because the kitchen malfunctioned long time ago.

During the visit, water supply was also identified as a challenge. It was reported that guardians walk 1.5 kilometres to access safe and clean water.

The facility also lacks bathrooms and toilets—a situation forcing guarding to be taking a bath at night only and also defecating in the bush. n