(The Nyasaland Network of Health Systems bemoan the declining health delivery system)
Court clerk: All silence! The court of his Lordship Judge Mbadwa is now in session.
Judge Mbadwa: This tribunal is today hearing an application from the Nyasaland Network of Health Systems Jolijo Job. Mr Job, why have you sought the indulgence of this tribunal?
Jolijo Job: My Lord, it has been five years already since the Tokha Are Liars assumed the reins of power with fanfare. My lord, whoever coined that expression that great expectations make frustrated men was on point if you were to consider the current state of the health delivery system.
Our hope to see the poor getting the best health care in public hospitals is waning by the day.
My lord, last time we were told that the district health budgets and expenditure have for the past 10 years been on the decline and nothing has changed.
My lord, it is sad that the biggest chunk of the money is going towards salaries while drugs and equipment receive a paltry allocation.
Striking a balance between having enough competent health workers and providing them with the necessary tools to do their work is something we have failed to do all these years.
My lord, the downside of not properly funding district hospitals means we are helping to increase disease burdens in various populations.
If we believe that a healthy nation eventually becomes a wealthy nation, then we should forget about Nyasaland getting out of the mire of poverty any soon.
My lord, it is disheartening that our referral and district hospitals are somewhat being neglected and I empathise with hospital directors, administrators and district health officers who have an almost impossible job under the present circumstances.
If you look at the 10-year period under discussion, it means both the People’s Demagogic Party and Tokha Are Liars are culpable.
The poor are treated with the same arrogance as hospitals remain heavily underfunded.
We have complained times without number that health facilities remain an eyesore while medical equipment is hardly available.
My lord, the cries of health workers who sweat blood daily to save lives are hardly heard and that explains the industrial actions they are now resorting to.
The dilapidated buildings that resemble hospital wards continue to worsen by the day.
With a year remaining before elections, if there is a possibility of clearing the rubble, then let us just act without fanfare.
My lord, why are we here? We want instant action on improving health delivery service and money is no excuse.
Mbadwa: The government side was not represented in this matter; hence we cannot continue without them being heard. Having said that, I failed to fathom whether counsel was applying for an injunction or seeking leave for judicial review or was giving an anecdote on the state of health service delivery in the country. I will adjourn this matter to next Monday to let counsel re-arrange his application to the expected standard.
Clerk: All rise!
