Under-5 clinic excites Nsanje communities

 Communities in Senior Chief Chimombo in Nsanje District have expressed excitement with the construction of a K38 million under-five clinic in the area.

The clinic opened on March 15 2024, and is expected to promote immunisation and other under-five services in the area.

In an interview on Tuesday, a mother Mary Black, who patronised the clinic, said they previously used to go to Mbenje Health Centre 10 kilometres (km) away or to Ndamera Health Centre, 9 km away to access under-five services.

She said: “Due to long distances, we used to leave early in the morning and sometimes we could meet thugs on our way who robbed us of our belongings.

“Sometimes others were raped on their way to the hospital.”

Thokozani Vazhi, another mother who came with her one-year-old baby, said it was difficult to go to Ndamera or Mbenje health facilities during the rainy season.

“Nsanje is a flood-prone area. I recall at one point I was trapped when floods hit Mbenje Health Centre area and it took me three days to return home,” she said.

Vazhi said the opening of the facility will encourage women to take their children for under-five clinic services, saying most women were reluctant to go for under-five clinic because of distance.

Senior Chief Chimombo said the facility will also help to reduce gender-based violence in the area.

He said: “Most women returned home late, which led to fights with their husbands.

“Again, the facility is expected to reduce maternal and child deaths as most women will be able to go for antenatal and under five clinic services.”

Nsanje District Council constructed the facility with funds from the World Bank-funded Governance to Enable Service Delivery.