By Ruth Kumwenda

Blantyre, March 6, Mana: Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, said government through the ministry will recruit over 6,000 health workers across Malawi to improve timely access to healthcare and meet people’s demand for quality services.

Chiponda was speaking in Blantyre on Wednesday during an inspection tour of the various health facilities that are under construction and rehabilitation.

Interacting with Health Surveillance Assistants at Bangwe Health Center, Chiponda urged them to be dedicated to their duties, saying government plans to promote health workers and recruit more to improve services in central hospitals and other health facilities across the country.

“Yesterday we received a go ahead to recruit 6,000 workers which will also include promotions as we have so many health care providers who have upgraded and they now have diplomas and degrees but they are still holding the same position.

“The promotion interviews will commence in the second week of March and will include all workers whether nurses and midwives, HSAs and clinicians in the health sector,” the minister added.

She said that Bangwe Health Center has a wider catchment (area) with over 200,000 people, adding that there was need to make Bangwe facility a community hospital.

Chiponda disclosed that Ministry of Health also plans to have at least four community hospitals in the City of Blantyre to reduce congestion at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, as Blantyre City does not have a proper district hospital.

“Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital is meant to be a referral hospital and not supposed to treat conditions like coughs and diarrhea which could be treated at a health center,” she said.

The minister added that the proposed community hospitals should have their own theater rooms, dental clinics, and X-rays and other essential services similar to those at central hospitals.

Chaponda therefore hailed partners such as the World Bank and Global Fund for supporting government in constructing health facilities to improve health service delivery citing construction of an Infectious Disease Unit and wards at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.

A health worker at Bangwe clinic, Enerst Takumana, welcomed government’s plans to promote health workers with gratitude, saying, “I am excited about the promotion, I feel it is an opportunity to grow and establish more career objectives. I started working in 2014 with no promotion. This will enable me to explore some skills that I acquired in college and the promotion will be an amazing opportunity as the minister said."

At Mpemba Health Center, the minister inspected newly constructed maternity wing, visited the current maternity ward and vaccine storage room.

Mary Symon from Traditional Authority Somba told Malawi News Agency (Mana), that she was grateful to see construction of new maternity wing and expressed hope that the new wing will create more space for mothers.

“I am thankful to government; the expanded maternity wing will provide mothers with   privacy and space. We deserve this," she added.

Ministry of Health recently opened Chiyendausiku maternity wing in Balaka District to improve maternal services in Balaka rural.