Low access to healthcare, Malawi report show
A 2013/2014 Malawi Service Provision Assessment (MSPA) report has shown that the majority of local health facilities face many challenges ranging to lack of basic amenities necessary for good quality care as four in 10 facilities do not have regular electricity and two thirds do not have a client latrine.
Many essential medications are available in less than half of the facilities, according ti the report, which is the first of its kind.
USAID health office director Peter Halpert whose office played a key role in assessment report, said: “access to HIV-testing services is vital in Malawi. Where 10.6 percent of women and men aged 15 and 49 are positive thus
according to the Malawi Demographic and Health survey.”
Principal secretary in the ministry of health Chris Kang’ombe said the report will help assess the health situation on the ground and how improvements can be made.
Kang’ombe conceded that the health sector is facing “so many challenges “.
Challenges highlighted in the report include neonatal deaths, family planning and antenatal care as the
major ones.
The Healthcare system in Malawi needs an overhaul. The healthcare ministry’s goals should be readjusted. The ministry needs to make sure that there are jobs available for the graduating nurses and doctors. Then since the number of people per doctor in Malawi is so high, the Ministry needs to empower qualified registered nurses to act on behalf of doctors like they are in America. The president also needs to make sure the person in charge of the ministry is a qualified person who has worked in a health related field, managerial position who understands healthcare language and the management of… Read more »