Delay to fix X–ray machine worries patients

Outpatients seeking X-ray services at Nkhotakota District Hospital are worried about the facility’s delay to fix the X-ray machine which developed a technical fault three weeks ago.

Currently, the hospital is sending patients on Tuesdays and Thursdays to Dwambazi Rural Hospital, about 90 kilometres away.

On Tuesday morning, patients were seen at the hospital’s ambulance bay waiting to be ferried to Dwambazi but only a handful were allowed due lack of transport.

Speaking in an interview, Lozi Secondary School student Emmanuel Bango who appeared to be in agony after breaking his arm two weeks ago, expressed disappointment with the machine’s breakdown.

“I was told that the X-ray machine is faulty. So the doctor advised me to come today [Tuesday] to travel to Dwambazi,” he said.

Another patient Francis Mtonga from Mwansambo , who had a fractured leg, appealed to authorities to address the problem quickly.

“I came as early as 5am hoping to get assistance only to be told that the equipment is not working,’’ he said.

However, the hospital’s spokesperson Justice Malunga said authorities are working to fix the machine.

“We are not providing scanning services to patients due to a technical fault. The problem will be over by month end. So far, the hospital is arranging transport for patients to travel to Dwambazi Rural Hospital,” he said.

Nkhotakota District Hospital is a referral facility that receives patients from other health centres.