By Solister Mogha
Zomba, May 16, Mana: People of Zomba Lisanjala Constituency on Friday got a shock of their life when, for the first time, a new ambulance was donated to Mambo Health Centre.
Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, who is also Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Dr William Susuwele Banda couldn’t hold his excitement in celebrating the new baby.
Speaking after receiving the ambulance, Banda said he was so happy to see the area having its own ambulance and that prayer and wishes of people of Zomba Lisanjala Constituency has been fulfilled.
The minister said for many years people in the area have had difficulties in accessing services at Zomba Central Hospital.
He said, because of lack of transport, people used to hire motor-bicycles whenever they were referred to the general hospital which was unsafe especially for pregnant mothers.
“First and foremost, let me thank President Prof Peter Mutharika who, each time I ask for something, he gives me. When I told the President that my people do not have an ambulance and it is a very difficult place to reach the major hospital, he promised to help.
“Today, he has fulfilled his promise, we will forever remember him for saving souls that would have been lost in trying to access better health services,” Banda said.
The minister said the coming in of the ambulance would reduce maternal deaths, ease transportation of serious patients and most importantly, transporting of health materials would be convenient.
Banda assured that together with his constituents he would safeguard the ambulance and ensure it operates for a longer period of time.
“This is the baby we have been waiting for years and we will not allow anyone misuse it. We will guard against it and ensure it is used for the intended purpose,” he said.
Director of Health and Social Services for Zomba District, Dr Alexander Chijuwa said it is government’s intention to improve delivery of health services across all places of the country.
Dr Chijuwa said one way of ensuring that people have access to quality health services is by among others, having enough medicines, health centres and also ambulances for easy mobility.
“Zomba District received three ambulances and realizing the difficulties people have in this area, we decided to give an ambulance which will be stationed here at Mambo Health Centre so that it serves people of this constituency.
“It is our expectation that this ambulance, apart from saving lives, will improve delivery of health services in this area,” Dr Chijuwa said.
The Director appealed to the community to take care of the ambulance and support health workers at the centre by providing extra security.
“At our office, we want Mambo Health Centre to be the centre of excellency; as such, we will build a big maternity wing, health staff houses and bring electricity,” he said.
Sub Traditional Authority (STA) Nkapita concurred with the minister that the prayer for the community had finally been answered by God.
The chief said if there are hard to reach areas in Zomba, Mambo is one of them.
“When we say reaching out to furthest communities with development, this is what we mean. We are very thankful to our parliamentarian for sourcing this ambulance which will remain history for years to come.
We expect to see reduction of deaths and also an improvement in number of people accessing better health services,” STA Nkapita said.
George Koloviko, who represented Zomba District Commissioner, Dr Raphel Piringu, warned health workers that the council would punish any officer reported to be abusing the ambulance.
“The ambulance has been given to assist people of this area and not to be abused by officers. Let me warn you that should we find out that instead of transporting patients, the ambulance is carrying charcoal used in building projects, the council shall take necessary action against you,” Koloviko stressed.
The new ambulance among other features has fully equipped first aid facilities, oxygen cylinders and High Blood Pressure (BP) machines.
Mambo Health Center is located at about 25 Kilometers from Zomba Central Hospital and it is behind Zomba mountain, few meters after Changalume barracks and Chingale Township.
