Minister challenges health directors to deliver
Minister of Health Jappie Mhango has called on health service directors in the country to be vigilant in executing their work.
Speaking when he opened a high-level meeting for the directors in Lilongwe on Wednesday, the minister said people’s health lies in the hands of the directors; hence, the need to deliver their job to the best of their ability
Top on the agenda of the meeting was good nutrition for a healthy Malawi.
Said Mhango: “I am aware that to deliver comprehensive nutrition services in the health sector, and indeed for any health service to be delivered comprehensively but also in an efficient and effective manner, there must be adequate resources and functional systems under strong leadership. I believe that the workshop today will help our health personnel to ensure healthy citizens.”
The minister said he is aware of problems that the country’s health sector faces, including inadequate financial and human resources for health, inadequate equipment, ambulances and infrastructure.
“On the other hand, I know there are also some stories of mismanagement of resources by some of our health managers. I appeal to such managers to change their approach immediately because we will not hesitate to take disciplinary action against such,” he said.
Poor nutrition among women and children remains a persistent public health and development challenge in Malawi, according to Ministry of Health statistics. In addition to high stunting levels, 63 percent of children under the age of five are anaemic, while 33 percent of women are anaemic.
Blantyre District Council acting director of health and social services Gift Kawalazila said the workshop will help them work together with the ministry in achieving good nutrition.
He said: “Issues of nutrition cut across the board. It is true that we haven’t registered progress on malnutrition because of several factors, but we hope to find solutions and get help on inadequate resources.”
According to the World Health Organisation, Malawi is among the developing countries experiencing the double burden of malnutrition, with high prevalence of both under nutrition and overweight.
