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The legislator for Ntcheu Bwanje North after attending her Public Accounts and Budget Committee Cluster meeting in Lilongwe on Friday went back home to experience what expectant women go through at Bwanje Health center.
Upon arrival at the center Chaola was welcomed with the shocking sight of pregnant women sleeping at the verandah at night as if they were catching a cool breeze which was not the case.
The facility has unfinished buildings meant to be postnatal, labour and antenatal wards, and a guardian shelter.
“This is where we sleep. All the guardians and expectant women sleep here, there is neither an ante-natal ward nor a guardian shelter here,” said a 22-year-old Suzan Makwinja from Chintama village in Traditionanal Authority (T/A) ganya, who is a pregnant women.
The health centers’ in-charge, Stephen Mpekanjira, described the situation as bad, and said sometimes they appreciate why some women opt to deliver at home.
“I cannot imagine my own sisters or wife going through that. It is not even safe sleeping outside. The situation is even worse when it is raining, they have to stand until the rain stops, it is not good for an expectant woman,” he said.
According to Mpekanjira, construction of the health center started in 2016 by German government’s Result-Based Financing (RBF) program, but was abandoned in 2018 due to misunderstandings with the contractor.
“It’s a central government issue. We just know that there were misunderstandings with the contractor and the funders, so now there is nothing happening, “he said.
After sleeping over at the health center, Chaola could not hold her tears, and said the experience was a life-challenge.
“It is sad. I was crying in my heart. A hospital is supposed to provide comfort, especially to pregnant women. This is not safe; imagine sleeping on the verandah and standing until the rain stops, when it rains, this is really sad. I will make sure I lobby funds for this, when I was coming for sleepover I planned to contribute K1 million, but the situation needs more to be done,” said Chaola.
Before leaving the place Chaola had breakfast with women and donated assorted items which include cooking oil, soya pieces and some cash.
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