By Pempho Nkhoma

Blantyre, March 25, Mana: Mdeka Mother Care Group (MCG) has managed to advocate for construction of a health shelter and a borehole at Masinde outreach clinic to make under-5 services accessible and provide clean water in the area.

Mdeka MCG, which operates under Mdeka Health Centre in Blantyre rural, was established by Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) to mobilise communities and advocate for under-5 vaccine and immunization.

Speaking on Monday when MHEN visited the MCG to appreciate the work at the place, Mdeka MCG chairperson Chrissy Issah said the group reached out to different people to help the group construct a shelter, considering that people were walking a long distance to get the services in the past.

“Before the establishment of our MCG, vaccines were being distributed under a tree, which was difficult during rainy season. We have managed to advocate for construction of Masinde outreach clinic and a borehole at the facility. Now we are also advocating for construction of shelters at Mtambalika and Grant outreach clinics where we already have bricks,” she said.

She therefore urged MHEN to consider empowering them more, saying they have a huge responsibility.

“We don’t have enough resources because our shelter is serving as a health centre. People come here to receive medicines so we need chairs and protective equipments like masks and gloves,” she added.

Blantyre District Health Office Deputy Director for Expanded Programme on Immunization, Gradys Chithyoka, commended Mdeka MCG, saying it has helped to improve coverage of under-5 vaccine services at Mdeka Health Centre.

“Mdeka was not doing well in terms of vaccine coverage. The area was always being affected by diseases which can be prevented by vaccines. That is why we selected these women to help us to sensitize other people about the importance of vaccine and MHEN came with the training,” she said.

MHEN also visited Tikondane MCG from Bangwe Township which covers three villages namely Wisiki, Nkhuku teni and Ntopwa and has helped to improve Bangwe Health Centre’s under-5 vaccine coverage from around 20 percent to 60 percent now.

MHEN, with financial support from Global Alliance Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) through the Ministry of Health, is implementing a project called Identification of Zero dose children in four districts, namely Mzimba North, Dowa, Mchinji and Blantyre where they established and trained Mother Care Groups.