Power outage affects Malawi health service delivery -Official
The Ministry of Health has expressed concern over power outage that has affected health service delivery in the country.
Speaking on the development to the Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Wednesday, Ministry of Health Public Relations Officer (PRO) Henry Chimbali said health services have not been spared from these outages he however said the Ministry had made efforts to have functional generators in all health facilities.
Chimbali however, admitted that it was costly to use generators that run on diesel due to the frequent outages. He said most of the health equipment in the theatres, x-rays, laboratories and kitchens required electricity at all times.
“It is very unfortunate that our health service delivery has been affected and it is very sad and regrettable to have deaths caused by intermittent power,” said Chimbali.
Unconfirmed report indicate that on the night of December 24, 2014, two (2) newly born babies died as they were being transferred from Bwaila Hospital to Kamuzu Central Hospital due to power outage and running out of diesel in the generator at Bwaila hospital.
Chimbali further said despite the fact that ESCOM make it a priority to have electricity in all health facilities, the ministry has also put generators with six hundred litres of diesel allocation which most of the times is not enough to meet the required demand.
The recent persistent rains have overwhelmed ESCOM’s capacity, energy analysts have argued 46 megawatts added in 2013 at Kapichira hydro power station was not enough to cater for suppressed demand.
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Peter Mathanyula Wakuba; the issue is not about which Goverment is ruling or who is heading ESCOM. Please note that forest degradation causing by illegal charcoal production is the root problem of power outage. NOTHING ELSE!! If people stop relying on charcoal and the forests are allowed to regenerate naturally within the next 8 to 10 years, this problem will be solved. Before 1993, forests were intact and the country did not experience power shortages due to clearing of debris and silt. People get this right. Thanks.
Imeneyo timaitcha Malawi Escom Limited. Very sad. 51 yes of independence. This problem occurs only in Malawi, I think…….
timuuze mtambo atitsogolere ndi ma demostration
It’s true
As long as escom is run by incompetent fools who’d rather spend billions buttering up the government of the day than pay millions to laborers to clean up the blockage caused by the floods, we will always have electricity problems.
nkhani ya magesi kuno ku Malawi sizatheka yiwalani anthu zalowa mthupi tsopano