Nurses’ suspension cripples health delivery in Phalombe

The suspension of three nurses at Phalombe Health Centre has negatively affected health service delivery.

In an interview on Wednesday, Phalombe district health officer Ketwin Kondowe said the suspension has crippled health service delivery at the health centre.

He said the health facility was already in a crisis and the suspension has compounded the problems.

“This [Phalombe Health Centre] is a big health centre which is also a referral facility,” he said.

The three nurses (names withheld) were suspended by the district council early last month following reports that they failed to take care of a pregnant woman who ended delivering outside the facility.

He, however, explained that his office is waiting for the decision from Local Authority Service Committee where the issue has been referred to.

In an interview on Wednesday, Phalombe district commissioner Gossam Mafuta said the decision was made to ensure that people in the district receive good health care services.

“The numbers are not an issue. We have to put things in order because we must know that our people expect a lot from our nurses in hospitals,” he said.

The district has 15 health facilities-10 public, four belonging to Christian Health Association of Malawi (Cham) and one is private.