Atupele Muluzi opens Mahowe Health Centre in Chitipa
A population of 12 000 people in Mahowe in Traditional Authority (T/A) Nthalire in Chitipa can now afford a smile following the establishment of a state-of-the- art health centre in the area.
The health centre has been opened in the house of former Speaker of Parliament, Rodwell Munyenyembe, to bail out people in the area from walking a long distance to the nearest health centre.
Located in a hilly set-up, communities from Mahowe were struggling to access health care services by traveling a distance of 35 kilometres to the nearest Nthalire Health Centre.
Speaking during the official opening of Mahowe Health Centre on Monday, Minister of Health Atupele Muluzi said the establishment of the health facility will help to reduce maternal deaths which were on the increase in the area.
“Mahowe area was registering the highest number of maternal deaths of all the areas in Chitipa District due to long distance to the nearest health facility.
“You can feel what communities here used to experience by traveling close to 40 kilometres to Nthalire Health Centre in order to access medical treatment, hence the establishment of this health centre by government,” Muluzi said.
Out of 10 maternal deaths that are registered in Chitipa, six come from Mahowe.
The health centre has been established following rehabilitation of the house of the former Speaker of Parliament by the incumbent Member of Parliament for Chitipa Wenya, Welani Chilenga, using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
However, Muluzi said there is a long term plan by government to upgrade Nthalire Health Centre to a rural hospital to serve Malawians in Nthalire.
“As a ministry, we are very thankful to the family of the late Rodwell Munyenyembe for offering the former speaker’s house.
“However, while it is extremely important for us to do more with what we have, we have a long term plan to construct a permanent structure, but also to upgrade Nthalire Health Centre to a rural hospital,” Muluzi said.
The minister also assured people in the district that government would ensure provision of an ambulance to reduce mobility challenges Chitipa District Health office currently faces.
According to the District Health Officer (DHO) for Chitipa Dr. Ted Bandawe, Chitipa District has only one operational ambulance.
Mahowe Health Centre, which has close to 10 rooms, comprises of a labour ward, pharmacy, antenatal and sluice rooms.
In his remarks, Transport and Public Works Minister Jappie Mhango assured communities of a tarmac road from Chitipa to Rumphi via Nthalire. He also pledged to rehabilitate the eight-kilometer Mahowe to Karonga Road.
“As government, we are on the right track to improve the lives of people through infrastructure development, as such, we have already started planning for the construction of Chitipa to Rumphi via Nthalire road,” said Mhango.
Mahowe is close to 130 Kilometers from Chitipa District Hospital.
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Isn’t it comical that it takes a whole Minister to open a Health Center? That says a lot about the sorry state of the Malawi Government. Don’t we need to relocate/prioritize our resources? So pathetic!!!!!!
Iwe Nyasalnd, what is wrong with a Minister opening a Health Center at Mahowe or any where in Malawi? In your view, is opening a Health Center at a place like Mahowe not development? By the way do know or have you ever heard or been to Mahowe? No, No, no, No!, politics aside, Hon Atupele Muluzi did the best he should by being so humble. Atupele is a Muslim, but he has done what the Holy Bible preaches about humility. I strongly commend what Hon Minister did and this must be emulated by other Ministers and Senior Government officials.… Read more »
What strikes me and many others is the spirit of donating a personal house to be used by Mahome community. While greedy politicians are stealing from common Malawians this family decided to give a big helping hand. With open and full hands past and present leaders have stolen from us including the Muluzi, Kamuzu, Mutharika, Joyce families.
Pelekani nyumba zanu zikhale zipatala inu a ndale. Why ask others as if the current politicians have no houses?
As a matter of correction, Hon Welani Chilenga is MP for Nthalire Constituency and not Wenya Constituency. It is naked much as late Hon Rodwel Thomas Changaranang’ombe Munyenyembe (RTC) (MHSRP) was MP for Wenya Constituency at the time of his death, he hailed from Mahowe Vge., T.A. Nthalire in Chitipa District. Wenya and Nthalire was one Constituency before 1994 AND, late RTC was the 1st MP for that Constituency. Many thanks to the DPP led government for considering to open a health center at a village as rural as Mahowe – Many, Many thanks indeed. Only fools do not appreciate.… Read more »