Long distances to access surgical care could soon be a thing of the past for residents around Area 21 and Chilinde in Lilongwe as government moves to build a theatre at their community hospital.
The Ministry of Health says it is at an advanced stage of expanding Area 21 Chilinde Community Hospital with additional infrastructure and essential medical equipment, a move expected to improve access to surgical services closer to home.
Baloyi disclosed the development in Parliament on Monday while responding to a question from Lilongwe City Masintha Member of Parliament Juliana Kaduya, who sought to know when the former Area 21 Chilinde Health Centre would be officially opened.
The Minister said the expansion is part of the Ministry of Health’s Integrated Capital Investment Plan aimed at strengthening the hospital’s capacity to deliver quality secondary healthcare services.
He told Parliament that the facility has already been upgraded from a health centre to a community hospital, in line with the Ministry’s policy of strengthening urban health facilities to decongest central hospitals.
“This status is in line with the Ministry’s policy direction to upgrade urban health facilities in order to decongest central hospitals. This will also be extended to district hospitals to improve access to quality secondary-level services,” Baloyi said.
The Minister added that Area 21 Chilinde Community Hospital is already providing healthcare services despite awaiting its official commissioning.
“The hospital has already commenced service delivery whilst waiting for its official opening,” he said.
According to Baloyi, the Ministry is working with the Lilongwe City Council to finalise arrangements for the hospital’s formal commissioning.
Earlier, Kaduya informed the House that although her question referred to the facility as Area 21 Chilinde Health Centre, it has since been upgraded and renamed Area 21 Chilinde Community Hospital.
