Report faults Phalombe health service delivery

A score-card report released on Monday in Phalombe District has exposed  challenges frustrating quality health service delivery in the district. The report has put access to health services at 45 percent.

Topping the list of challenges are poor representation of health issues in the District Development Plan, poor staffing and frequent budget slashes that affect the district health office (DHO) plans.

In an interview on the report, Globe Hope Mobilisation executive director Caleb Thole, who is also member of Universal Health Coverage Coalition in Malawi, said some of the findings were shocking and needed quick solutions.

He said: “For instance, we have just learnt that the DHO fails to meet some health demands due to huge cuts in their initial budgets by the central government.

“Like this year, they had budgeted an average of K60 million for monthly activities, but the money they receive is about K20 million every month.”

Phalombe District director of health services Ketwin Kondowe admitted that his office is poorly funded.

He said this in turn makes it hard to meet the district’s health demands.

“Besides, my office encounters hiccups with drug procurement at Central Medical Stores where most of the times some crucial drugs are not available,” he said.

Universal Health Coverage is a United Nations agreement that member States shall strive to ensure that all people and communities from their States access healthcare whenever they need it.

The research involved community development structures such as village development committees, area development committees, traditional leaders, youth groups and health advisory committees.