KASUNGU-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Government, through the Ministry of Health, on Friday launched the much-awaited integrated measles-rubella vaccination campaign, that aims to immunize eight million children aged between nine months and 14 years.
The vaccination campaign runs from Monday, June 12 to 16, 2017 throughout the nation. It is the first of its kind; previously the country only administered the measles vaccine.
This joint exercise, will also administer the rubella vaccine, which is generally a mild infection, although it has serious consequences in children.
The campaign has attracted funding from the Global Alliance on Vaccination Immunization,
worth US$5.5 million (MK4.1 billion), while the Malawi Government has contributed MK4 billion.
The campaign will provide over 2.7 million vitamin A supplements, and one million deworming tablets to children aged six to 15 months.
Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume, told a gathering in Kasungu that about 11,000 sites have been designated for the vaccine campaign.
Kumpalume said that the growing cases of rubella, a highly infectious, viral disease, caused by the rubella virus, prompted Government to initiate the joint vaccination program.
The health minister said sites include static clinics, outreach clinics, and temporary sites; these will be opened in all Government, Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM) and private health facilities.
World Health Organization (WHO reports reveal that in 2015, globally measles killed about 134,200 children mostly under the age of five.
One of Malawi’s key donor, United Kingdom, has rejected supporting the procurement of 3 digit X-rays machines for Malawi Government following irregularities which accompanied bidding and all tendering processes, ruling out any possible bribery and corrupt practice allegations suggesting that Minister of Health Dr Peter Kumpalume received K50Million from Lilongwe City Centre Parliamentarian, David Bisnowaty to garner favours and influence tenders for himself.
In February 2016, British Government through Department For International Development (DFID) in its capacity as member of Donor Health Group (DHG) suspended the muilti billion Digital X-Ray machines procurement in order to investigate corrupt practices.
Following the suspension, Health Donor group instituted the inquiry by engaging private company to do proper investigations HSJF Agent (GFA Consulting).
In a letter to the Ministry of Health, DFID Senior Health Adviser Andrew MacNee, which has been copied to Ms Emma Mabvumbe, who is director of Policy and Planning Department in the Ministry of health and HSJF Fiduciary Agent, reads in part;
“You Will recall the Ministry of Health wrote to us on 5 February, 2016 regarding possible irregularities in the procurement process for 3 digital X-Ray machines. On the basis of this letter, The HSJF DP suspended our support for the procurement and requested a number of investigations be conducted,”
According to the letter there were indeed gaps in the way how Biocare the tender was awarded.
Soon after rewarding the tender to Biocare Company, Medical Consultants Africa a company which is owned by Bisnowaty wrote the ministry challenging the results and MCA called for review of the bidding process.
According to the letter which has been addressed to Secretary for Health Dr Macphail Magwira donors cannot support the procurement since the process of procuring the machines went ahead without their knowledge.
What this means is that Malawians will continue suffering in our hospitals with no new machines.
Dr. Kumpalume: Theft of drugs is something that we cannot tolerate
Mzuzu, June 3: Government has deployed people to track those who steal medical drugs and other supplies from public health facilities in the country, Minister of Health Dr Peter Kumpalume has disclosed.
LILONGWE (MaraviPost)–In a quest to have quality health services in the country’s public hospital with sufficient resources, the much awaited health fund including users fees and insurance is expected to get grounds come July this year.
The health fund is part of the much touted public reforms in health sector aimed at soliciting resources into one package for the improvement of the health services with the call from health experts for accountability in the utilization of public funds.
Malawi’s Minister of Health, Dr. Peter Kumpalume disclosed the readiness of the health fund to The Maravi Post in the capital Lilongwe over the weekend after Options Consultancy Services Limited (OCSL), an international organization working in Malawi hosted the first ever knowledge café in a bid to strengthening access to quality health services.
Dr. Kumpalume emphasized the need for all the stakeholders in the health sector to support the initiative in a bid to improve health quality services with sufficient resources.
“The Knowledge Café on health has given government insights on how best Malawians can access good quality service. The café’s output is a reel way into public reforms my ministry is embarking including establishment of the public fund where all stakeholders’ resources will be put in one package for easy utilization.
“The Public fund will be in operation come July this year with critical issues including user fees and insurance in public health facilities as core agendas. We want our public hospitals to become an ideal place where Malawians will have affordable and quality services for their health. This is the reason we call for collective support towards the implementation of the program”, urges Dr.Kumpalume
The Maravi Post later caught up with Jo Elms, Options International’s Managing Director who hinted the need for transparency and accountability in the utilization of the resources which the health fund will generate saying his organization was will support more on the program.
Elms therefore lauded the manifestation of decentralization of funds in public health facilities with the call to put strong measures in controlling resources from mismanagement and abuses by public officers.
“We are delight with the progress on effort to improve transparency and accountability in the utilization of public resources which are meant for the poor’s access to quality health services. Options will support any initiative which aims at improving the health of pregnant mothers and infants as our core business of operation. We are here in Malawi helping government to realize the needs of people who live in remotest area where access of quality health services is a challenge.
“Options use knowledge café to bring together government figures, health planners and professionals, representatives from NGOs, the media and the donor community to discuss how accountability in the health sector can be strengthened so as to ensure that all Malawians can have access to good quality health care. Therefore, we are satisfied for the output which has helped government to start looking outside of the box on how to improve delivery of quality health services in the country”, delighted Elms.
Option is an international organization delivering high quality, innovation health programs while building partnerships to transform the health of women and children and runs program including Malawi Health Sector Program (MHSP-TA) with funding from the UK Department for International Development.
Since 2011, Options international has been working closely with Malawi government and NGO partners on a range of health sector programs including the Parent and Child Health Initiative (PACHI)’s MamaYe Campaign as it’s also implementing the Health Budget Advocacy (HBA) Transparency Scorecard in Rumphi, Nkhata Bay and Mzimba districts.
Options has previously held Knowledge Café events in London and Nepal which bared fruit of quality services in those countries which provide a productive forum of life time prospects in finding ways on how best our health services can be improved especially on maternal health.
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