Director of Health and Social Services (DHSS) for Likoma District, Dr. Gracewell Mathewe, has said the extension of Chima Health Centre in the district will improve service delivery to a population of over 6,000 people.
Mathewe was speaking Tuesday during President Lazarus Chakwera’s maiden visit to the district where he inspected construction of an Out-Patient Department (OPD) at the health facility.
“We spend more than K750,000 for a single referral to the mainland facilities and, in a month, we receive 3 or 4 patients who require such services.
“Universal health coverage requires that patients should have easy access to medical care and the extension of the OPD will greatly improve our delivery of health services in the district,” said Mathewe.
Mathewe then asked government to consider constructing a new maternity wing, as the current one does not meet the required standards of maternity services.
Commenting on the development, Nema Nkhoma of Kachere Village in the area of Senior Chief Mkumpha said the facility would help many people, especially women and children in the district.
“This is the only health facility which offers free medical and health services and we will no longer be seeking paying services from private health facilities,” said Nkhoma.
Reported By George Mponda
