National News

Centre to address health needs for 72 villages

A new health centre in Tongozala Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mkanda in Mchinji is expected to ease the burden thousands of people living in and around the village faced in walking 20 kilometres to the hospital.

People around the area were walking to the district hospital or Mkanda Health Centre to access medical care.

Chazama cuts the ribbon assisted by Nawasha

Speaking at the launch of Tongozala Community Centre, which comprises the health centre, an early childhood development (ECD) centre and women’s economic empowerment centre, Senior Chief Mkanda said the area was in dire need and affirmed that God has made a way for them.

“Previously, people were walking long distances to Mkanda Health Centre and they had to leave very early in the morning,” he said.

Nisha Mandani,  founder of Our Aim Foundation (OAF), an American organisation that has built the centre, said the clinic will be run by a full time doctor from the United States of America, nurse and other staff, catering for 72 villages, including Tongozala.

Further, she said the foundation has planned several vocational training programmes with qualified teachers and trainers to make Mchinji women financially independent.

Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Cecilia Chazama, who was the guest of honour, said the centre’s objectives resonate well with government policies and strategies on the empowerment of citizens, promotion and protection of their rights.

On her part, Mchinji district commissioner Rosemary Nawasha said access to health services is among the list of the district development plan.

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