Nkhata Bay DHO officially relocates to new facility
Nkhata Bay district health office (DHO) over the weekend officially moved its health care services from the old hospital (popularly known as John Lengy) to the new facility built by government.
The new facility has been constructed using a partial loan $8.7 million (about K10.6 billion) from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), Fund for international development (ofid).
The new hospital has facilities like state- -of-the-art operating theatres, intensive care unit, wards for individual specialities, a fully equipped laboratory, pharmacy and equipment.
It has 350 beds and 69 modern staff houses.
Nkhata Bay (DHO) Albert Mkandawire told the District Executive Committee members on Friday that the new facility has a paying section where services will be provided at a cost to those who can manage.
Mkandawire’s call comes shortly after members of the parliamentary committee on health appealed to government to consider privatising part of the hospital to supplement running costs.
Last year, the parliamentary committee on health said the current financial hiccups choking Nkhata Bay District Health Office may make it difficult for the hospital to maintain the new facility.
President Peter Mutharika is due to open the hospital any time as the contractor of the project finally handed over keys to government.
