Bringing Relief to Rural Malawi
The new ambulance will allow staff to transport women in labor, accident victims and other patients to Zomba Central Hospital 30 miles away for emergency treatment.
ZOMBA, Malawi - A new ambulance gifted to the remote Khanda Health Centre is bringing hope of improved healthcare access to over 20,000 people in Malawi's Zomba district, writes Peter Davieson.
Villages in Partnership (VIP), an international aid group, donated the K45 million vehicle during a ceremony last week. VIP's country director, Wellings Mwalabu, urged local officials to rehabilitate the bumpy dirt road leading to the clinic to ensure the ambulance can transport patients safely.
"We constructed the health center and handed it over last August, so to make the hospital complete, today we are delivering the ambulance for the community to use," Mwalabu said.
"We would also wish to request our friends at the district council to rehabilitate the road to reduce the pain for patients."
Council chair Baster Chirwa pledged to relay Mwalabu's request for road improvements to facilitate ambulance access.
"This ambulance is a big relief to the council due to challenges we face with shortages of ambulances at many health centers," Chirwa said.
Local chief Nkagula praised VIP for addressing real community needs.
"Here in Zomba we have many organizations, but how many are doing recommendable work? Very few. I ask others to copy what VIP is doing," Nkagula said.
Khanda Health Centre serves over 23,000 people in the area.
The new ambulance will allow staff to transport women in labor, accident victims and other patients to Zomba Central Hospital 30 miles away for emergency treatment.