National News

Ntchisi District Hospital needs X-Ray machine

Ntchisi District Hospital has appealed for support from well-wishers to assist the facility with a modern digital X-ray machine to offer quality and timely services to patients.

Ntchisi director of health and social services Zondwayo Ng’oma said currently they have to refer patients to other health facilities.

“But sending patients outside the district costs us on transportation and the services rendered at the referral facility,” he said.

Needed: An X-Ray machine

Ng’oma said the high vacancy rate has hit the facility hard and affected the speed of service delivery.

“The vacancy rate for nurses is at 86 percent and  overall it is at 65 percent. This is putting pressure on shifts which were supposed to have three nurses but are being done by one nurse,” he said.

However, he thanked Global Fund for the support to the district with medical assistance on tuberculosis, malaria, HIV and Aids among others.

Ministry of Health spokesperson Joshua Malango said the ministry is aware of the situation at the health facility and that it is making efforts to address the problems.

“The ministry is working hard to have the situation reversed. A part from Ntchisi, we also appreciate similar hitches faced by other health facilities,” he said.

Ntchisi has a population of 317 065 with 12 health facilities. However, the district hospital also receives patients from parts of Nkhotakota and Dowa.

Related Articles

Back to top button