Expansion of community health centers to ease pressure on QECH – DHO

Health authorities in Blantyre are optimistic that expanding treatment facilities in community health centers will reduce reliance on Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH).

Blantyre District Health Office (DHO) officials expressed this optimism during a donation of assorted medical items to Mdeka Health Centre, courtesy of the Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS).

Currently, Mdeka Health Centre serves approximately 33,100 residents, some of whom are referred to QECH for specialized treatment when diagnosed with complex conditions.

However, plans are underway to expand the facility to improve service delivery.

Blantyre District Health Office Clinical Coordinator, Aleck Asima, confirmed that Mdeka is among the health centers earmarked for upgrades.

“That’s one of the plans the Blantyre District Council and our office have—to upgrade some facilities into community hospitals. If this facility attains that status, it will be able to offer more services,” Asima said.

He explained that the expansion would provide patients with easier access to medical assistance without depending on QECH.

“When we talk of doing more, we mean offering advanced services such as caesarean deliveries for laboring women and manual vacuum aspiration for pregnancies beyond four months,” Asima added.

Meanwhile, MNCS Director of Human Resources and Administration, Lameck Gomani, said the Council’s donation was driven by the urgent need for essential equipment at the health center.

“As a Council, we are excited to contribute to the well-being of Malawians. Since we are responsible for promoting sports, we believe that a healthy population can actively participate in sporting activities. Good health and sports go hand in hand, which is why we are proud to make this donation,” Gomani said.

The donation, funded by proceeds from the 2024 Blantyre 42.195 KM Race, includes a refrigerator, a wheelchair, a stretcher, and a fan—items identified as crucial to improving healthcare delivery at the facility.