MP Lunguzi demands financial contributions from Malawians towards health sector
Member of Parliament for Dedza East Constituency Juliana Lunguzi has asked the Malawi government to come up with mechanisms that will ensure that Malawians start to provide financial contributions that
will assist in easing some of the challenges the country is experiencing in the Health Sector.
Lunguzi, who is also Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Health and Population in Parliament, made the call at the presentation of results and awards for the Result Based Finance for Maternal and
Neonetal (RBF4MNH) Cycle 14 held at the Capital Hotel in Lilongwe on Wednesday.
She said it is sad to note that Malawi is among the few countries. whose citizens litelary contributes totally nothing towards the health sector hence increasing the rate of problems and challenges faced.
“We need to start contributing to the health sector to make sure that medical personnel are working properly. In so doing, we can have
enough drugs and adequate facilities in our hospitals” said Lunguzi.
She therefore warned that if this is not done, Malawian Citizens will. continue to complain of poor service delivery in public hospitals
including shortage of drugs and equipments.
In reaction to Lunguzi’s call, Principal Secretary in the Minister of Health Dr. Dan Namarika said government is working around the clock in search of best mechanisms that will help to ease several challenges
the Health Sector is facing.
Namarika admitted that his ministry is indeed still facing so many serious challenges due to inadequate funding.
He therefore revealed that the government is in the process of recruiting more medical personnel as well as encouraging Malawians to
hold hospital authorities accountable.
“Issues of Human Resources are a priority and as government, we are determined to employ more people in the health sector so that they
serve you” said Namarika.
He also hailed RBF initiative for its tremendous contribution in
serving lives of pregnant mothers and newborn babies.
Namalika said rewards given to Health Centres, Public and CHAM Hospitals are
encouraging health personnel who in return offers the best medical services.
He also advised Hospital Management Teams to collaborate well with Health Advisory Committees in their respective areas to ensure that drugs and other medical equipments are properly tajen care of.
On his part, RBF Project Director Matthews Naviiri expressed satisfaction with the progress of the initiative since its inception.
“As RBF Team, we are very proud to see that wour overall performance is at 91 percent to me I think it is a greatest achievement.
“Some can say why are we not at 100 percent but if we look at where we
are coming from thus 18 percent, I think we can congratulate ourselves” said Naviiri.
He therefore encouraged officials from the Ministry of Health and the entire personnel in the health sector to work hard and pledged
continued financial support.
Naviiri revealed that they will invest about half a million dollars to purchase equipment that will de distributed to various health centres
and public hospitals.
Other construction projects are also expected to start in Septemember according to the RBF Project Manager.
“The idea behind all this including the awards is to encourage those in the health sector to provide quality health services,” said Naviiri.
“No woman shall die while giving birth and no baby shall die before reaching 5th birthday,” he concluded.
RBF4MNH supports the Malawi government in addressing factors contributing to high levels of maternal and newborn deaths using
innocative approaches and it is locally called ‘Uchembere wangwiro’.
It is a pilot programme aimed at increasing the number of facility based birth and enhance the quality of care provided to women during
labour and delivery.
During the presentation of Cycle 14 results, health centres, public and CHAM hospitals were awarded with money as a tocken of appreciation for their great work totalling to K108,267,075.00.
He RBF initiative currently covers four districts of Balaka, Ntcheu, Dedza and Mchinji.
Mchinji emerged the overall best performing district after scoring 93 percent followed by Dedza and Ntcheu who were tied at 91 percent while Balaka came fourth with 90 percent.
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