The Livingstonia Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbytery (CCAP) has come to the rescue of Kavuzi community in Nkhata Bay through the construction of a health centre.
This comes against the background of the closure of Chitheka Health Centre in the area due to water shortage.
The moderator of the synod Douglas Chipofya, in his homily at Kajilirwe CCAP on Sunday, said hospitals are important in human life.
“It is a pity when the health sector is ignored when it is supposed to be a priority,” Chipofya said.
He said it is the role of the church to complement government in the health sector.
In an interview, Nkhata Bay district health officer Albert Mkandawire(DHO) hailed the synod for the facility.
He said the DHO is barely managing ambulance services; in a district which has many facilities in hard to reach areas.
He said the locals were travelling 18 kilometres to Mzuzu Central Hospital or 30 km to the district’s hospital to access health.
“The DHO will be supporting this facility in any way possible in terms of drugs and personnel,” Mkandawire said.
Team Leader of the First Presbyterian Church from Missouri, USA, Kyle Kittrell, who partly funded the project, said the facility is just a small portion of what needs to be done in the health sector in the country.
The facility has been constructed with funding from St Andrews Parish in Scotland and Missouri first Presbyterian Church in USA to the tune of K12 million ($21,818). n
