By Yamikani Yapuwa

Thyolo, July 3, Mana: Parliamentary Committee on Health has expressed concern with reports of inadequate meals provided to patients at Thyolo District Hospital caused by insufficient funding.

Speaking after a visit to the Hospital on Tuesday, Chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Dr. Matthews Ngwale said patients are only receiving one meal in the morning and nothing for the rest of day.

“We cannot continue like this. The first medicine for a patient is the food they eat and if we take away that food, we are taking away 80 percent of their chances of recovery.

“We observed one patient who said that during his two weeks’ admission to the hospital, he has only received one meal per day,” he said.

Ngwale emphasized the need to increase the budgetary allocation to patient’s food, stating that the current K 6 million per month was insufficient to provide nutritious food necessary for patient’s recovery.

District Commissioner (DC) for Thyolo, Hudson Kuphanga said delayed funding has contributed to the food issue, adding that suppliers have stopped delivering food due to outstanding debts.

“It is my plea to the committee to ensure that there is timely funding to hospitals,” he said. 

Kuphanga disclosed that the hospital owes Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) K200 million and asked the Ministry of Finance to consider a bailout, warning that it would be disastrous if ESCOM disconnected power supply to the facility.

“Additionally, the hospital has no perimeter fence, which poses a security risk,” the DC noted.

Thyolo District has 28 health facilities and a district hospital which serves as a referral point.