Expectant mothers left in distress over poor bedding at Hoho Health Centre
Pregnant women seeking maternity services at Hoho Health Centre in Mzimba South are reportedly being forced to sleep on torn pieces of old mattresses, exposing the poor conditions expectant mothers face and highlighting wider challenges in Malawi’s rural health system.
A visit by Malawi24 to the facility found that women admitted to the maternity wing are sleeping on worn-out mattress pieces, raising concerns over patient dignity, maternal care standards, and the state of public health infrastructure.
The situation has sparked fresh calls for urgent action, with community members saying mothers and newborn babies deserve better conditions during one of the most important stages of healthcare.
Member of Parliament for Perekezi Constituency, Fikani Ulunji Nyirenda, acknowledged the problem and said efforts are being considered to improve conditions at the health centre through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Nyirenda said upgrading Hoho Health Centre is one of the priorities for the area and pledged that available CDF resources would be used to improve services at the facility.
District health authorities have confirmed that Hoho Health Centre is not the only facility facing shortages and poor conditions.
Director of Health, Social Services and Sanitation for Mzimba South, Dr. Price Chirwa, said many health facilities across the district are experiencing similar operational and infrastructure challenges.
According to Chirwa, the district continues to face pressure on healthcare resources, including shortages of beds, mattresses, medical equipment, and proper accommodation for patients.
He said the situation reflects wider funding and capacity gaps affecting service delivery in many rural communities.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Perekezi Constituency Development Committee, Christopher Melele, said the committee is committed to ensuring health services receive support through the CDF.
Melele explained that the committee is currently handling development proposals from different sectors within the constituency and would make sure approved health-related projects are given priority.
“The role of our committee is to make sure development is taking place. We will ensure people benefit from approved projects and that development follows constituency plans,” said Melele.
The conditions at Hoho Health Centre have renewed debate over maternal healthcare services in remote parts of Malawi, where many expectant mothers continue to face poor facilities despite repeated government promises to improve public healthcare.
Health rights advocates say providing proper beds, clean mattresses, safe wards, and essential equipment should be treated as a basic necessity, not a luxury.
