Malomo Health Centre in Traditional Authority Chilooko in Ntchisi has become the first facility in the district to start offering in-patient services.
Speaking at the launch of the services on Monday, Ntchisi District director of health and social services Dr Lumbani Munthali said the initiative will help to decongest Ntchisi District Hospital.
He said people from Malomo and surrounding areas were covering 30 kilometres to access in-patient services at the district hospital.
Said Munthali: “Services will include admissions for children and adults as well as antenatal.
“Three wards were constructed some years ago under the Malomo Rural Growth Centre but were not being used because both the Medical Council of Malawi and Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi made several recommendations for them to be certified.”
He said after rehabilitating the wards, the Medical Council of Malawi re-inspected the facility on April 4 this year and allowed the District Health Office to start offering in-patient services.
Ntchisi North legislator Arnold Kadzanja (Malawi Congress Party) was excited that people will now access in-patient services nearby.
He said: “People were asking for transport to go to Ntchisi District Hospital.
“In worse situations, some patients were dying on the way to hospital.”
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