Minister of Health and Sanitation Madalitso Baloyi has expressed concern over slow progress in the construction of health posts being constructed under the Presidential Initiative for Maternal Health.
Speaking on Tuesday during a monitoring visit to Chipayika Health Post in Nkhata Bay, the minister said she was disappointed with the pace of work, noting that several sites remain behind schedule.
She said: “I am hesitant to say the project is going well because there is lack of progress considering the time it started and where it is going.
“There is still a lot of work to be done and the timeline is not matching up.”
Baloyi said the delays undermine government’s plans to take maternal and primary health services closer to communities such as Chipayika, Banga, Kayiwozi and Mbwelero in the district.
She said her ministry will tighten oversight and restrict contractors from handling multiple projects, arguing that divided attention has contributed to delays.
“We want a contractor to manage one contract. We don’t want contractors managing several contracts that are not moving,” said Baloyi.
On his part, Chimuhanya Building Construction supervisor at Chipayika Health Post Alexander Ng’oma, said progress stands at 40 to 50 percent, while the firm’s three other sites—Banga, Kayiwozi and Mbwelero—progress remain at foundation level.
He said late issuance of performance bonds and transport problems set the project back, noting that groundbreaking took place in February 2025, but work only began in October.
Chipayika facility, which includes two staff houses, is part of a K3.2 billion package covering four health posts.
The facility is expected to be completed by February 2026 while other health posts are expected to be completed within six months.
