The Ministry of Health has provided mobile digital X-ray machines to hospitals lacking functional ones, enhancing the screening of presumptive tuberculosis (TB) patients.
The development comes after The Atlas Malawi reported that Chiradzulu district hospital is operating without the machine and that clients were returned home, and some were advised to seek services elsewhere.
The Director of Health Technical Service in the ministry of Health, Godfrey Kadewele wrote a letter to 12 district commissioners informing them of the development.
The hospitals are Zomba Central, Bwaila, Dowa District, Nkhotakota District, Salima District, Mangochi District, Machinga District, Chiradzulu District, Mwanza District, Chikwawa District, Rumphi District and Chitipa District.
“The Ministry of Health through World Bank Covid Grant, Emergency Response, and Health Systems Preparedness Project, among many other items, procured twelve (12) mobile digital X-ray machines.
“This letter is meant to notify your office that your district hospital or health facility is among the identified beneficiaries and that delivery of the machine is planned to be executed soon through the supplier, e-Trading Incorporation. Attached is the delivery schedule. Your usual support for safe and secure storage awaiting installation and training is expected and appreciated,” reads part of the letter dated November 19 2024 titled ‘Delivery of digital X-Ray machines.’
In an interview, Chiradzulu District Hospital’s director of health & social services, James Chausa confirmed the development.
“We have received the mobile digital X-ray machine and I can also confirm that all the related problems are now solved. We are now offering X-ray services at the hospital,” he said
Chiradzulu District Hospital is operating without an X-ray machine, a development which is affecting the screening of presumptive tuberculosis (TB) patients.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chest radiography, or chest X-ray (CXR), is an important tool for triaging and screening for pulmonary TB, and it is also useful to aid diagnosis when pulmonary TB cannot be confirmed bacteriologically.
