Health centre operates for 10 years without water
Chikande Health Centre in Ntcheu Bwanje South Constituency has been operating for 10 years without running water after unknown people vandalized pipes in 2010.
Officer In-Charge for the Health Centre, Mphatso Dzenza said the development was posing a healthy risk at the facility due to poor hygiene.
He said it was very challenging to conduct their duties in absence of water considering that the facility has a maternity wing that usually needs water to clean up women after delivery.
“The problem has existed for 10 years a development which is worrisome to us as we consider water as much vital as medicine,” Dzenza pointed out.
He added that the area has registered two cases of Covid-19 pandemic putting lives of people in the area at risk of contracting the disease since water was a challenge.
One of the guardians at the maternity wing at the hospital, Allena Owen said they travel long distances to a communal borehole to fetch water to assist them at the maternity.
” We are pleading with authorities to consider us with at least a borehole at the hospital,” she said.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament (MP) for the Constituency, Mwisho Chilikumtima launched a K5 million Water Project in the area on Friday,
Chilikumtima said the project, under Constituency Development Fund (CDF), would help to reinstall water pipes at the Centre to deal with the challenges the hospital has been facing.
“We have decided to consider fixing water problems at the Health Centre upon realizing that water is life hence the need to be available to all,” he said.
During the launch of the water project, the MP handed over an ambulance to ease mobility challenges in the area.
Chikande Health Centre has a catchment population of 19,700 people from Traditional Authorities (TA) Ganya, Makwangwala and Sub Traditional Authority (STA) Mkutumula in the district.
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zoopsa ka!!!
nanga poti ife kwathu Muluzi anaika cikhomo kha titi njerwa poti amange Health Centre komatu siuyu mpaka lelo. pamakhalapo ana odyetsa mbuzi ndi n’gombe. then Atupele wanted to come to loot more with hid grand dad.
this country is SWAMPED
This is sad reality in many rural health centers. They have sunk boreholes; erected solar pumps; invested in wiring of the buildings but none work. They still ask our pregnant mothers to bring a bucket of water for their deliveries. In rural Lilongwe there are several heath centers in this situation. Then at bigger hospitals you have equipment that is bought and stays idle for years without being used.
koma zoona mpaka 10 years osapangapo kanthu inuyo akuchipatala knowing very well kuti mjigo amapanga apply kuti and alot on NGOs who are doing such work. anthu ofuna kuthesedwa ntchito aja ndiye amenewa thats incompitence at highest level possible. 10 years a hospital running without water close by thats insane
So you think the medical officers haven’t been putting requests to their ministry? It’s the negligence of the govt mixed with a poverty stricken society that normally produces thieves that will steal anything their hands can lay on. Many health institutions are in a state of disrepair. A group I know recently fixed toilets at Ntcheu hospital maternity wing which have been broken for a looong time. Hospital administration didn’t have enough funds to fix them as they are always getting funds not enough to meet their budgets.
Feel sorry for poor medical officers rather than blaming them.
Bravo Mwisho. Wishing you good luck as you represent your people in the constituency