AfDB team assesses projects
Representatives of the African Development Bank (AfDB) have expressed satisfaction with the way projects funded by the institution are being implemented in the country.
The team expressed the sentiments on Tuesday when they visited the $2.5 million (about K1.8 billion at today’s exchange rate) AfDB-funded Chisoka Health Centre in Thyolo.
impressed
Sammy Zaghloul, one of the executive directors of AfDB, said they were proud of the bank’s contribution and hailed Malawi for choosing the Thyolo East Constituency community that previously had no access to such a facility.
During the visit, Tinenenji James, an expectant mother from Kamoto Village, Traditional Authority Chimaliro in Thyolo, said previously the people used to access medical facilities at Thyolo District Hospital about 20 kilometres away.
The health centre’s clinical officer-in-charge Patrick Sandram said the facility has helped in reducing maternal deaths in the area and provision of medical care for other diseases.
However, he said the health centre is still in need of facilities such as a laboratory, a small drug store and a guardian’s shelter.
Thyolo district health officer Michael Mowa also said the facility has eased the community’s access to health services but bemoaned a lack of adequate funds as a challenge threatening sustainability of service provision.
Opened on November 27 2010 by former president Bingu wa Mutharika, Chisoka Health Centre caters for a catchment area with 18 villages and a population of 27 094. The 18-bed facility with a staff compliment of 40 serves between 250 and 400 patients daily, according to officials.
