By Aliko Munde
CHITIPA-(MANA)-President Lazarus Chakwera on Monday inaugurated Nthalire Community Hospital in Chitipa District, which serves a population of 60,000 people and 1,500 pregnant women.
Dr Chakwera said it is his government’s priority to promote quality health services in rural areas hence inauguration of Nthalire Community Hospital from a health centre.
He applauded partners like Press Trust for complimenting government’s efforts in promoting quality health services in the country.
He said Nthalire is part of Malawi and people there deserve all the necessary developmental projects just like any other district in the country.
“We know most people walk long distance to access health care service in rural areas. My government is building and rehabilitating health facilities in rural areas so that people get health care services near their localities like Therere Clinic which will soon be a dispensary,” Chakwera said.
Press Trust Board Chairperson, Sosten Gwengwe, disclosed that his organisation has invested over K1.2 billion to upgrade Nthalire Health Centre to a community hospital.
“We saw challenges people were facing to access secondary healthcare especially pregnant women. That is why we came in to support construction of the community hospital,” Gwengwe said.
Senior Chief Nthalire thanked government for upgrading the facility into a community hospital.
He said it was difficult for referral cases as Chitipa District Hospital is 120 kilometres away.
“We are happy that pregnant women with complications will be delivering at the health facility,” Nthalire said.
Press Trust has rehabilitated the hospital’s laboratory, kitchen, and constructed a mortuary as well as male and female wards.
