By Mary Makhiringa

Balaka, July 4, Mana: Director of Health and Social Services (DHSS) for Balaka District Council, Dr. Chimwemwe Thambo, has disclosed that Balaka District Hospital was struggling with a number of challenges to provide quality health care service owing this to the devaluation of the Kwacha which has resulted into rising cost of most of the commodities.

He said this Wednesday when Parliamentary Committee on Health visited Balaka District Hospital to appreciate how the hospital was fairing on feeding patients.

Thambo added that hospital was struggling to provide patients with adequate nutritious meals to speed up their recovery.

“We prepared our budgets before devaluation of the Kwacha was effected. The situation has affected the ceilings that we had anticipated to be spent on food to feed our patients,” he explained.

While calling on government to consider adjusting funding upwards to health sector, Dr. Thambo believed that joint farming ventures with Malawi Prison Services would be an ideal way to address food challenges at Balaka Hospital.

Chairperson of the Committee, Dr. Matthews Ngwale expressed concern over the state of affairs in most public hospitals as far as provision of meals is concerned.

“We have discovered that patients at the district hospital are given porridge in the morning, and in rare instances they are given lunch. There is nothing for supper and the amount of food that patients are given is not adequate.

“Government must step in immediately and address the situation, it is pathetic that our patients are being fed once like prisoners. They say the best medicine is food, if patients do not eat, even if you give them medicine, they cannot improve,” he added.

Ngwale appreciated various infrastructural development taking place at the Hospital saying; “On a positive note, I must commend the various infrastructural renovations taking place, once refurbishments are done in the near future, health service delivery would be enhanced,

He commended Balaka Hospital for at least trying, saying some hospitals like Thyolo District Hospital only give patients porridge.