CCJP touts health governance project in Karonga, Chitipa

Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of Karonga Diocese has expressed satisfaction with a health governance initiative in Karonga and Chitipa districts.

In an interview yesterday, CCJP health governance project officer Obert Mkandawire said the initiative sought to  give people opportunity to access healthcare information.

“Through standard operating procedures, the initiative set channels for information disclosure in line with the Republican Constitution,” he said.

However, Mkandawire said the free access of information in the two districts’ health sector will be achieved once the Access to Information (ATI) law becomes operational.

Karonga District Hospital director of health and social services David Sibale said the initiative was helpful.

“Besides providing guidance, the initiative acts as a bridge between my office and the community and it will help to sort out misunderstandings amicably,” he said.

In a separate interview, Malawi Congress Party spokesperson the Reverend Maurice Munthali said the previous Democratic Progressive Party administration did not operationalise ATI law because it had bad things to hide.

Former minister of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technology Mark Botomani attributed the delay to operationalise ATI law to Covid-19 pandemic which he said prevented stakeholders from meeting to regulate the law.

CCJP implemented the project with financial support from Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa.