JB attracts crowds in Machinga, promises to take poverty head on

President Joyce Banda received a warm welcome in Machinga district – considered opposition UDF stronghold – on Thursday when thousands cheered her when she went to lay a  foundation stone for the construction of a maternity wing and waiting home for Mlomba dispensary school in the Traditional Authority Mlomba’s area.

Her function was well patronized by  supporters of ruling Peoples Party clad in their orange colour.

In her address at Mgodi Primary school ground, President Banda said she  has a clear developmental agenda for Malawi.

Banda said she would take poverty head on through various interventions in both rural and urban areas to improve welfare of the people.

The President noted that the country has been lagging behind on a number of developmental and health issues such that time had come to deal with them.

Crowds that attended the President's meeting in Machinga
Crowds that attended the President’s meeting in Machinga

“I will do anything in order to eradicate poverty in the country. It bothers me to seeing people impoverished as that hinders socio-economic development of the country,” President Banda said.

The President also mentioned Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood, Mudzi Transformation Fund, One Cow One Village, Farm Input Fertiliser Subsidy and ‘fertilizer through Loan’ programme as initiatives that shall transform Malawi from poverty to prosperity.

On Safe motherhood, the president said her government would ensure that the current maternal mortality of 675 per 100, 000 lives is reduced to a no death of women before, during and six months after delivery.

“I will make sure that maternal deaths are reduced.  Mothers shouldn’t die of maternal complications,” she explained.

She, therefore, expressed hope that Mlomba Dispensary would reduce maternal mortality after the construction of the maternal wing and waiting shelter.

In her remarks, Minister of Health, Catherine Gotani Hara called on health personnel to consider maternal health and safe motherhood with conscious.

She commended the President for championing issues of maternal health and safemotherhood.

According to Mlomba Dispensary Medical In-Charge, Dithia Mjojo, the health facility serves 54 villages through Out Patient services and it also refers maternal cases to other facilities in the district that have maternal services.

She also expressed hope that the facility would handle maternal cases once the maternity wing is in place.

The new wing will have 13 beds upon completion according to a contractor. The project will be financed by Tasha de Vasconcelos of Monaco in France.

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