Women guardians endured harsh conditions while caring for relatives at Kasungu Hospital
The anxiety of watching over sick loved ones was compounded by harsh living conditions as women guardians at Kasungu District Hospital had for years spent nights in cramped, smoke-filled shelters with no privacy or proper sanitation, exposing themselves to serious health risks while performing selfless acts of care.
According to Malawi News Agency, women guardians at the hospital had been forced to live in a small shelter that doubled as a kitchen, where they cooked, slept and rested in the same smoke-filled, congested space. Sanitation facilities were largely absent.
With no proper bathrooms, women were forced to bathe in the open, while full and unusable pit latrines led to open defecation around the hospital grounds.
“It was a health hazard. The conditions were not good for anyone,” said Janet Phiri, chairperson of the guardians, recalling the past hardships, while describing the overcrowding as overwhelming. “The place was too small and overcrowded. We were cooking, sleeping and resting in the same smoky environment.”
Another guardian, Ethel Manda, said the lack of space forced women to sleep in tightly packed conditions, with some forced to use verandas or lean against walls.
“The structure was tiny and heavily congested. We slept closely packed together,” Manda said. She added that smoke inside the shelter worsened the situation, especially after long hours of caring for patients.
“The air inside was always thick with smoke,” Manda said. The problem was compounded by the growing population in Kasungu, which placed additional strain on the hospital’s limited infrastructure.
In response to these challenges, Kasungu District Council has constructed a modern guardian shelter at the hospital, designed with adequate space, proper bathrooms, and improved sanitation facilities.
The new structure is expected to reduce overcrowding, improve hygiene and restore dignity for guardians, while also lowering health risks and enhancing the quality of care they provide to patients.
While guardians play a critical role in patient care, providing meals, assisting with hygiene and offering emotional support, at Kasungu District Hospital they endured poor living conditions that compromised both their health and dignity.
Observers note that such conditions are not unique to Kasungu, but are common in many public hospitals across Malawi, highlighting the urgent need for improved infrastructure to support both patients and the guardians who care for them.
Pictures by MANA
