Growing concerns have emerged at Mzimba Urban Health Centre, where patients and staff are being forced to use unsafe and overcrowded toilets due to the facility’s lack of its own sanitation infrastructure.
Health rights advocates warn that the situation not only threatens public health but also undermines the dignity of thousands of patients who depend on the centre for daily medical services.
The alarm was raised by the Mzimba Youth Organisation (MYO), which engaged health authorities during an interface meeting involving rights holders and service users.
Executive Director Moses Nkhana described the situation as unacceptable, noting that a major public health facility cannot operate without functional toilets.
Nkhana said the centre currently relies on two toilets one for males and one for females belonging to Tovwirane, a nearby NGO located within the old hospital premises.
“These toilets are unsafe, unsanitary, and far too few for the number of people who seek medical help here every day. This puts patients, guardians, and even health workers at serious health risk. It is a violation of dignity and basic human rights,” said Nkhana.
He added that congestion and poor hygiene conditions in the shared toilets heighten the risk of waterborne diseases and other infections, especially during peak hours when the facility is busiest.
In response, Administrator for Mzimba South DHO, Louis Moyo, acknowledged that the facility indeed lacks its own sanitation infrastructure.
He, however, assured stakeholders that management is exploring sustainable solutions.
“We acknowledge the challenge, and we are actively looking for a sustainable way to address it,” said Moyo.
Community members who attended the meeting urged authorities to treat the matter as an emergency, stating that the current arrangement “cannot continue any longer.”
Mzimba Youth Organisation warned that if the issue is not addressed with practical action, they will be forced to stage demonstrations.
