By Rashidah Matandika
Located 70 Kilometres from Thyolo District Hospital, Thekerani Rural Health Centre serves a population of over 40,000 people from Group Village Head Khozombe and nearby villages under Traditional Authority Nsabwe.
Despite serving such a large population, the health centre faced serious challenges. For three years, it had no proper water supply and relied on a community borehole and sometimes even a river.
This situation was especially tough for expectant mothers. After giving birth, many had to walk long distances to fetch water, often more than a kilometre away.
“My mother, who was my guardian, had to search for water and could only manage to bring one bucket. For a woman who has just given birth, that is not enough. We need a lot of water for cleaning and washing clothes,” said 35-year-old Umbysie Wayenda, who delivered three children at the facility.
The water shortage affected both patients and hospital staff. The facility delivers around five babies each day, requiring a constant supply of clean water for hygiene and equipment sterilisation.
“In some cases, babies were born with fever due to poor sanitation. Our equipment also became difficult to clean properly, which is risky in a hospital environment,” explained James Thuthuwa, the facility in-charge.
But things have changed, thanks to an innovative water harvesting system installed by the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS). The system collects rainwater into two 20,000-litre tanks. The water is treated using solar energy and stored in a tank that supplies clean water through taps directly into the maternity ward.
Christabel Kambala, a lecturer in Environmental and Public Health at MUBAS, said the idea came after surgeons from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) saw the water challenges during maternity procedures.
“Malawi has natural resources like sunlight and seasonal rains that often go to waste. So, after discussions with RCSI, we created a system to make use of these resources,” Kambala explained.
The water passes through solar-powered treatment reactors before being stored and used in the maternity wing. Though the system was designed as a backup, it has been running efficiently since its installation in February 2024 under the Surg-Water Project. This initiative focuses on providing low-energy water treatment for rural health centres, aiming to improve outcomes for mothers and newborns.
Kambala said they are continuously testing the treated water and comparing it with borehole water to ensure quality and safety.
Group Village Head Khozombe thanked MUBAS for the support and promised the community would protect the equipment from vandalism. “This system has reduced the burden on our women, who used to walk long distances for water, especially during delivery,” he said.
Wayenda, who has experienced care at the centre before and after the installation, noticed a clear improvement. “Before, the lack of water put our health at risk. Now, it’s easier to stay clean and safe after giving birth,” she said.
There is more to come as the benefactors are also exploring ways to improve and localise the equipment to make it more affordable and available across the country.
