Nkhata Bay rural accessing health services in Mzimba
Nkhata Bay communities have said travelling 40 kilometres to Luwawa Health Centre in Mzimba to access health services is making their life unbearable.
They have since appealed to the district council and their legislator Emily Chinthu-Phiri to construct a health centre in the area to enable them access health services easily.
They have since appealed to the district council and their legislator Emily Chinthu-Phiri to construct a health centre in the area to enable them access health services easily.
The residents, who are from Chinganitole, Makumbo and Mtazi in Traditional Authority (T/A) Zilakoma in Nkhata Bay South Constituency, also asked for boreholes.
In an interview after a visit to the villages recently, village head Msandivule Mkhalabweza of Chinganitole said the problems people are facing are overwhelming.
He said: “The road to Luwawa [Health Centre] is rocky and getting there by foot is a nightmare.
“Pregnant women deliver in homes or on the way to Luwawa. Recently, we lost a woman, three children and a man because they failed to reach the clinic in time. We need help.”
On his part, village` head Laban Tilani of Makumbo said people in the area are tired of drinking unsafe, unhygienic water from unprotected sources.
In an Interview, Chinthu-Phiri, said she is aware of the problems and asked the communities to be patient.
“I am engaging the District Health Office to provide a mobile clinic to these villages,” she said.
Nkhata Bay district commissioner (DC) Rodney Simwaka promised to engage district council officials on how they can address the problems.
