People from the area of Traditional Authority Nkaya in Balaka have applauded Balaka District Council for the construction of a K93 million health post, which they have described as a game changer.
Since time immemorial, people from Nkaya used to walk over 42 Kilometres to access medical help at Balaka District Hospital or endure a 20 Kilometre walk to Phimbi which used to be their nearest health centre.
It is because of this back ground that the Council, in conjunction with others, decided to construct a health post in the area using the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) funds.
Alinafe Salibu from Nkaya Village, highlighted the long distance from Nkaya to Utale, Phimbi Health Centre or Balaka District Hospital as too challenging, claiming that a lot of people have lost lives in the process.
Said Salibu: “I was born in Nkaya, and grew up here as well, I have seen people losing lives because of the fact that access to medical help was denied since we did not have a close by health facility.
“…we will guard over it by not allowing vandalism of any of the things that have been constructed and given.”
With funding from the World Bank, the National Local Government Finance Committee is assisting best performing councils with Programme Based Funds.
By Mary Makhiringa, MANA
