Rural Malawi Still Without Health Services After 60 Years
The limited number and inadequate facilities of Health Posts in the mountainous areas, coupled with the poor road network, contribute to the difficulty in reaching these remote communities.
NSANJE, Malawi -Malawi's Nsanje Central constituency continues to face significant challenges in accessing healthcare services, despite the country's 60 years of independence, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
Local communities, particularly those in mountainous areas such as Bwangu, Kawa, Kamanga, Misamvu, and Kanyimbi, are forced to travel long distances to access healthcare facilities.
This issue has been raised by Nsanje Central lawmaker, Kafandikhale Mandevana, who expressed concern during an interview with AfricaBrief.
Limited Health Posts and Inadequate Facilities:
Mandevana highlighted that the areas in question lack sufficient Health Posts to adequately address the healthcare needs of the communities.
These Health Posts are ill-equipped to handle complicated medical cases, necessitating their upgrade to Health Centres.
Mandevana specifically mentioned Bwangu Health Post, which attracts locals from Kamanga, Nyatchiri, Misamvu, and Mzembera.
Unfortunately, the facility is too small to accommodate the population of the catchment area.
Dependency on Overburdened Health Posts:
Furthermore, residents of Kawa are dependent on Kanyimbi Health Post, which is unable to cater to the high number of people from the surrounding villages.
The situation is exacerbated by the challenging road network, making it difficult for healthcare providers to reach these remote areas.
Despite the existence of mobile clinics, their limited operation days render them ineffective in meeting the healthcare needs of the communities.
Calls for Upgrades and Alternative Solutions:
Nsanje Central Chief has repeatedly raised concerns in Parliament, calling on the Ministry of Health to consider upgrading the existing Health Posts to Health Centres.
This upgrade would ensure that the facilities are equipped to handle a larger population and provide more comprehensive healthcare services.
Additionally, Mandevana revealed that a church in Nthondo area has expressed its intention to establish a health facility.
The preparations for this initiative are reportedly at an advanced stage, pending approval from the District Council and Senior Chief Tengani.
Despite Malawi's 60 years of independence, communities in Nsanje Central constituency continue to face significant challenges in accessing healthcare services.
The limited number and inadequate facilities of Health Posts in the mountainous areas, coupled with the poor road network, contribute to the difficulty in reaching these remote communities.