Mzimba youths rally behind Mhalaunda in battle for Health Centre control
Residents of Mhalaunda in Mzimba District have received support from the Mzimba Youth Organization (MYO) in their ongoing efforts to reclaim control of Mhalaunda Health Centre, a facility the community says was built through their contributions and support from World Vision.
MYO Executive Director, Reverend Moses Nkhana, stated that the organization stands firmly with the people of Mhalaunda in demanding that the health centre be operated as a public facility, offering free medical services, similar to other government health facilities across the country.
According to Rev. Nkhana, the people of Mhalaunda played a significant role in the construction of the health centre and therefore deserve to benefit from free health services.
“As an organization that fights for the rights of the people, we are ready to take drastic measures to ensure that the people of Mhalaunda take control of their health centre, which is currently being run by Embangweni Mission Hospital as a private institution,” said Nkhana.
He argued that the community’s contribution to the project qualifies the facility to be treated as a public institution.
“If the community contributed 25 percent toward the construction of the facility, it means the health centre belongs to the government and ultimately to the community,” he added.
Rev. Nkhana also criticized the office of the District Health and Social Services (DHSS) in Mzimba South for what he described as a failure to keep proper records regarding the ownership and status of the health facility.
“It is unfortunate to hear the Mzimba South District Health Office saying it has no records indicating that the facility belongs to the government. What we expected from them was a commitment to investigate the matter. Their response is questionable and reflects irresponsibility,” said Nkhana.
Meanwhile, members of the Mhalaunda Citizens Forum have expressed strong determination to ensure that the health centre is placed under government management so that residents can access free medical services.
One of the forum members, Godfrey Botha, told Malawi24 that community members worked tirelessly during the construction of the facility and cannot accept a situation where the infrastructure is used for profit.
“We sweated during the construction of Mhalaunda Health Centre because we wanted to benefit from free health services under the government system, not to see Embangweni Mission Hospital making profits from our buildings,” said Botha.
He further questioned the response from the Mzimba South District Health Office, saying officials were present when the facility was completed.
“The answers from the District Health Office are baseless. They know the truth. In 2002, when the health centre was completed, officials from the health office came and told us that they did not have enough staff to manage the facility,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Solola Constituency in Mzimba, Rightwel Mahowe, has told Malawi24 that he will assist the people in reclaiming their health facility so that they can benefit from free healthcare services.
