By Vincent Gunde
The Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) says Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have a duty to monitor and do social accountability for projects which are being implemented at different health facilities at the district level.
The MHEN said CSOs should not lie idle that when they see shortage of medicine in health facilities, they should stand up with a voice for government to listen on its social accountability by holding duty bearers accountable.
Speaking during an interface meeting which brought together CSOs in Health governance issues in Dowa held at Mponela in the district, MHEN’s Executive Director, George Jobe, said the Universal Health Coalition (UHC) believe in building capacity of CSOs on social accountability and advocacy on how they can help health systems to improve the situation on the ground.
Jobe said the meeting discussed issues which needs attention of the district so that the health system is strengthened and CSOs on how they can work towards influencing speedy achievement of Universal Health Coverage for all.
“We considered in our discussions some of the policies, systems and capacity building of health structures in the system,’’ said Jobe.
He expressed hope that CSOs in Dowa will strengthen their coordination to work closely together so that issues can continuously be brought together for the good of an ordinary person who go to the health facility.
In his remarks, Vice Chairperson for Dowa district Civil Society Organizations network, George Kaunda, expressed concern that the major challenge they are facing has been failure to access information at the council on projects being implemented in the district.
Kaunda said despite the call to have access to information Act, access to information is still a challenge saying some people in government offices are operating as if Malawians are living in the 18th and 20th Century where public information was a hidden agenda.
He said CSOs of the district value coordination as a key for achievement of every development in the district saying the meeting has helped them to reflect on weakness and build on the success that has seen coordination be the power of a way of living.
“There’s need to have access to information on all projects being implemented in the district to enhance cooperation, transparency and accountability,’’ said Kaunda.
The Universal Health Coalition building capacity started with two districts, Mangochi and Mchinji and is a continuation of their previous project of training CSOS in social accountability and advocacy.
