Malawi’s First lady calls for more support to health sector

The first lady, Madam Monica Chakwera has appealed to the well wishers to join the government in pumping support to the health sector saying people’s health is the primary thing that needs to be taken into consideration.

Chakwera was speaking during the official opening of the Nguluwe Health Post in Lilongwe in the Area of Senior Chief, Malili as she was presiding over the ceremony.

Backing up her appeal, Chakwera said the country requires more health facilities to reduce preventable deaths.

“I would like to well wishers to join the band wagon and assist in the constitution of the maternity wing and also a fence around the clinic.

“We also need to have more health facilities to avoid preventable deaths, especially The annual number of female deaths from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management during pregnancy and childbirth or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy,” she said.

She also called on the health workers and people around the newly constructed health post to take care of it and the medicine.

The construction of the Nguluwe Health Post started in 2006 which means it has taken 16 years for it to be completed with support Lilongwe District Council and European Union (EU) which Monica described as disheartening.

The construction of Nguluwe Health Post is in line with Universal Health Coverage the Malawi Government which is implemented through the ministry of health.

At least 19,000 people who were travelling over 21 Kilometers to seek health services to Chitedze health centre and 29 kilometers to Bwaila District Hospital will now be assisted at the newly constructed facility.

“If we can hold together we can build a health clinic within a 5 kilometers radius across the country,” she added.

Minister of health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda who was in attendance at the ceremony said the government has already constructed 70 health posts since ushered into power in 2020.

“Our plans are to construct about 900 health facilities by 2030 to achieve our goal of having a clinic within a 5 kilometers radius across the country,” she said.