Malawi is in crisis!

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ekwendeni hospital

It is not a secret now that public hospitals in Malawi are  being run by well wishers and legislators for respective areas due to insufficient funds from the government.

Forget about the fuel crisis that hit Chikwawa district some months ago and the recent one at Chiradzulu district hospital where even vehicles to carry patients to main referrals had no fuel and just news that hit the media this week that Mangochi hospital officials sent a request to business tycoons in the area to help the health facility with funds.

Just as if this is not enough, this reporter has been following reports that Mzimba councilors begs for hospital funds Councilors in Mzimba have asked well wishers to support operations of the district’s hospital which is failing to provide services due to lack of adequate funding.

Recently, this publication unearthed problems that have befallen the district hospital as well as some rural health centres in Mzimba district.

ekwendeni hospital
Ekwendeni hospital in Mzimba.

According to our findings, government allocated seven million to about 31 health centers in the district. Councilor for Edingeni ward Daniel Nkosi just like his fellow councilors views such an amount as not enough considering the vastness of the district.

To him government would have done better by allocating a little more funds to clear up problems currently marring the health sector in the district.

“At the moment we fear losing our people with the situation at hand. Hospitals here are in total shamble that patients do not have hope,” said Nkosi.

Publicists for Mzimba district hospital Ernest Nyirenda admitted that due to few funds they have been forced to cut off some meals for night shift staff as well as patients.

He added that chronically sick patients are not being referred from rural health centres because of limited fuel in the ambulances.

“We have suspended hot meals for our staff on the night duties as well as patients. Even to refer critically ill patients from rural health centres to here is a problem,” said Nyirenda.

However, the councilors are mulling over summoning the district’s parliamentarians and other stakeholders in a bid to map the way out.

As a quick response to such desperation the Mzimba pastors fraternal donated money worth MK150, 000 to the hospital.

Chairman for the fraternal pastor Ellen Sosole told our reporter that as the faith community they feel sorry for the state of affairs at the facility.

Sosole said though the donation may seem small, it will go along way helping patients at the facility who are in great despair.

While hailing the donation, councilor Nkosi called for all well wishers who feel they can also help to do so in time.

“The current state of affairs has forced us to call upon everyone who wishes to help us to come forward because the health sector in our district is in total shambles. We are afraid to lose our productive subjects,” said Nkosi.

This comes at the time the ministry of health has declared that the national health sector is in woes due to lack of funding.