Govt to construct Nthalire-Mpata Road
Chitipa South legislator Welani Chilenga has said government plans to construct the Nthalire-Mpata Road to ease transportation problems for referral patients from Nthalire, Wenya and Mahowe health centres to Chitipa District Health Hospital.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)legislator said this at the 2019/20 health budget meeting organised by the Malawi Health Equity Network (Mhen) on Thursday at Sunbird Capital in Lilongwe.
“Government has allocated K1.5 billion in this year’s budget, K5 billion in next year’s budget and K4.5 billion in the following fiscal year for this road which is key to socioeconomic development.
“This will reduce the time ambulances cover to Chitipa District Hospital for referral patients and reduce mortality rates,” he said.
At the meeting, Nthalire Health Centre management committee secretary Shadreck Mandevu asked the Parliamentary Committee on Health to lobby the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for budget adjustment for drugs, medical supplies and recruitment of additional medical staff.
In an interview, Parliamentary Committee on Health vice-chairperson EuritaValeta commended Mhen for bringing her committee closer to the community to hear challenges people face in pursuit of health services.
Mhen executive director George Jobe said following the meeting, his organisation will come up with recommendations to relevant authorities for action.
