Support health centres, Dedza DC advises
Dedza district commissioner Thomas Chigwenembe has called for support from different stakeholders to help health facilities in the district to provide efficient services.
He said this on Monday during a Health Sector Strategic Plan III dissemination meeting Ministry of Health officials organised aimed at accelerating Malawi’s progress in achieving universal health coverage targets by 2030.
Chigwenembe said the district’s health facilities are experiencing challenges due to inadequate resources as the district also receives patients from neighbouring Mozambique.
He said there are no concrete solutions to end some of the challenges such as denying Mozambicans access to healthcare services.
Said Chigwenembe: “These meetings are important as we discuss issues such as how we can formulate ways to generate money and utilise resources that government and donors provide to us.
“As a border district, we receive patients from our neighbour in Mozambique and this somehow affects us because the budget we receive from the ministry is usually in line with the district’s population. We, therefore, appeal to stakeholders to continue supporting us.”
Dedza district director of health and social services Isaac Mbingwani agreed with the DC and added that non-Malawians accessing health services is one of the challenges the district is facing.
He said: “Much as we are experiencing these challenges, plans are underway to upgrade some health centres into rural hospitals.
“Know that Mayani and Lobi are earmarked to be upgraded into rural hospitals. We have inadequate resources and we appeal to other partners within Dedza to support us with funds to fulfil our strategic plans.”
