By Brian Wasili

Mwanza, August 17, Mana: Mwanza District Council considers introduction of Health Sector Strategic Plan III (HSSP III) for 2023 to 2030 a right direction to address communities’ challenges when accessing health services in the district.

Mwanza District Council Chairperson, Bellon Kasambwe said this on Saturday in an interview with Malawi News Agency at a district stakeholders meeting which Ministry of Health with support from Last Mile Health held to sensitize participants on HSSP III.

“The plan has come on time because it is strategically focusing on ways to address real issues which communities in the district are facing,” said Kasambwe, citing long distance to access services at health facilities, shortage of medicines, inadequate health workers and staff houses as some of the key issues affecting health service delivery in the district.

The HSSP III is meant to ensure improved health status of all Malawians and increased client satisfaction and financial risk protection towards attainment of Universal Health Coverage aligned to the national development plan of Malawi Vision 2063 agenda.

The Council Chairperson therefore called for coordination and collaboration between Mwanza District Council and stakeholders to ensure progress and successful implementation of the HSSP III in the district by 2030.

The HSSP III outlined nine guiding principles such as; community empowerment, decentralization, transparency and accountability, client centeredness, integration of health service delivery.

In his remarks Director of Health and Social Services in the district, Dr. Anthony Chafunya applauded the HSSPIII saying it will also help to measure and improve performance of service delivery in health facilities in the district.

“It is expected that there will be increased equitable access to and improved quality of health care services as expected by communities in the district,” he added.  

In another interview, Kanduku Area Development Committee (ADC) Chairperson, Davis Chimate commended government for coming up with the HSSP III but asked relevant authorities to work jointly to mobilize necessary resources to ensure successful implementation of the plan.

“We are excited with the plan but there is need to ensure that we all work in collaboration in the implementation of the plan to avoid demotivating the communities,” he said.

Mwanza District Council officials, elected members, chiefs, clergy, ADCs and youth representatives were some of the participants at the meeting.