By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, July 24, Mana: Chairperson for Kasungu District Council Heath Service Committee, Christopher Kamtambo has said the completion of six modern staff houses at Kasungu District Hospital should be a motivation for health workers to deliver quality services.

He said this on Tuesday when he led the Council’s Health Service Committee members inspecting various development initiatives in the district.

Kamtambo acknowledged that there was a shortage of staff houses in the Council’s health facilities saying the problem leads to shortage of staff especially in rural facilities.

“We know the need that is there regarding proper housing for health workers. It is this shortage of houses that is also largely contributing to shortage of staff in rural areas. 

“Let me assure everyone that government, through the Council, is committed to building as many houses but it cannot be at once. We have started and we have to keep the momentum,” the Chairperson said.

District Medical Officer for Kasungu, Ulemu Zulu hailed the Council for the project which would ease the challenges being faced by health workers.

He said that, “The housing challenges are not only here at the main facility but also across the district. It is one of the hindrances to quality service delivery.

“When sending our staff to various facilities, we know they will need good security and accommodation but this lack of houses prevents us to send adequate numbers.”

Zulu said for quality service delivery, more health workers must be housed within the facility premises so that even if one is off duty, they could be called to fill gaps that may arise in the course of service delivery especially at night.

Apart from the houses, there is construction of a maternal and child health block, maintenance of existing offices and construction of a pharmacy, all being done by Tabitha Development Construction Limited.

Operations Director for the Firm, Julius Kamanga, said it was pleasing that the project has been delivered within the prescribed contractual period.

The Houses are part of the K3 billion Health Infrastructure Rehabilitation Fund which has helped to complete a total of 18 health staff houses that were abandoned under the Umoyo Housing Project in 2012 at Kasungu District Hospital, Lodjwa, Kaluluma, Wimbe, Bua and Chamwavi Health Centres.

In the 2023/24 financial year, Kasungu District was allocated K3 billion to pilot the health infrastructure rehabilitation project which was being piloted in Mzimba, Dowa, Balaka, Chitipa and Likoma.