Free Maternal Care Returns to Rural Hospital
Meanwhile authorities from Kalemba Rural Hospital have yet to comment on the development.
Nsanje, Malawi-Nsanje Lalanje Member of Parliament Gladys Ganda has hailed government for responding to the call to fund the Christian Hospital Association of Malawi (CHAM) institutions for them to provide free maternal services in the country, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
Ganda echoed the sentiments on Wednesday in an interview with AfricaBrief, saying women in her constituency especially expectant mothers were walking long distances to Phokera Health Centre for maternal services after CHAM had suspended their services at Kalemba Rural Hospital.
The MP blamed the government for taking a long time to sponsor CHAM facilities in the country which did not spare Kalemba Rural Hospital in Nsanje Lalanje.
"We have been pushing for the funding of these institutions in the July and November 2023 sessions and the government has finally fulfilled the promise," she said.
An expectant woman Angella Madalitso from Tambo village said she went to Phokera Health Centre, a distance of about 8 kilometres, for maternal services because she could not pay the K13,000 fee to start maternal services at Kalemba Rural Hospital, the nearest facility.
"I am pleased that maternal services are back to free at the facility," said Madalitso, adding that she is going to get her coupon from the Village Headman.
Senior Group Village Headman Nyang'a has confirmed that traditional leaders are now issuing coupons to pregnant women to access free services at Kalemba Rural Hospital.
"Due to poverty women were shunning maternal services at Kalemba where they were charged K30,000 for normal delivery while those needing cesarean had higher charges," alleged the senior traditional leader.
Meanwhile authorities from Kalemba Rural Hospital have yet to comment on the development.