Mzimba DHO gets medical equipment

Ministry of Health has handed over medical equipment worth K52 million to Mzimba District Hospital to enhance its service delivery.

The equipment included oxygen concentrators, beds, plastic aprons, pregnancy test kits, bedside monitors and baby warmers.

Speaking on Tuesday during the handover, the ministry’s health technical support services officer Clifford Dedza said the equipment will improve services at the hospital’s reproductive department.

He said: “The donation comes after receiving reports of lack of such equipment at Mzimba District Hospital and others in the Northern Region.

“We believe the equipment will reduce maternal and neonatal deaths.”

Dedza also commended KfW of Germany for helping the ministry to buy the equipment.

On her part, Mzimba District Hospital nursing and midwifery officer Atisiya Mwase said the equipment will solve problems health workers face at the maternity ward.

She said: “We registered 21 deaths involving pregnant mothers between August 2020 and January 2021.

“Our records show that we lose 13 newborn babies per 1000 live births at the hospital.”