Budget Cut Worries Health Sector in Zomba, Malawi

During the meeting, it was revealed that Chisi health center was built in 1998 without a maternity wing, so the council had plans to construct a maternity wing as well as two hospitals in Zomba.

ZOMBA, Malawi - Member of Parliament for Zomba Malosa Grace Kwelepeta has expressed worries over budget cut from K1.4 billion to K798 million proposed for the health sector under the Zomba District Council, saying it will affect service delivery, writes Peter Davieson.

The statement was made Thursday during a full council meeting organized to approve reports from different sectors under the council.

"I am very disappointed to hear that they have cut half of the money," Kwelepeta said. "The sad part is that this has come at a time when our health facilities are in bad shape and we had plans to rehabilitate 12 health centers but with this budget cut we will not manage to do all the health centers so the impact will not be seen."

Brazio Chinthenga, councilor for Matiya ward and chairperson for the Health Committee at the Zomba District Council, cited that the budget cut has a negative impact on Malawians, especially those who live in rural areas.

"Most of our health centers lack staff houses, proper doors, bulbs and other materials so at first we were happy that we will fix all these challenges but now we are sad because we need to go back to our facilities and crosscheck what we can manage with the money available," Chinthenga said.

During the meeting, it was revealed that Chisi health center was built in 1998 without a maternity wing, so the council had plans to construct a maternity wing as well as two hospitals at Thondwe and Chingale.

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