Deputy Minister of Health, Halima Daudi, has launched a K700 million Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (TB) Ward at Balaka District Hospital, financed by the World Bank.
Balaka is a TB prone district since there is a growing population of investors in the mining sector.
Daudi said the government is investing in constructing 9,000o health posts to ensure health services are closer to people and reduce congestion at district and central hospitals nationwide.
Health and Social Services Director at Balaka District Hospital, Dr Chimwemwe Thambo, revealed that the hospital has been struggling to refer patients to Queen Elizabeth or Kamuzu Central Hospitals in Blantyre and Lilongwe cities, respectively, which is said to have been draining resources.
“With a population of over 600,000 our hospital every year, we at least see not more than 12 patients with Multi-Drug Resistant TB problem. The construction of the ward is timely and each time we do not have a patient, the structure will be used to house other patients,” he said.
Councillor for Chimwalire Ward in Balaka, Osman Mapira, thanked the government for the intervention.
Mapira further called upon the government to consider the district in constructing a befitting hospital, since the current one was once used as a Leprosy Centre donated by the Catholic Church.
By Mary Makhiringa, MANA
