Cyclone Freddy has caused floods at Mbenje and Makhanga health centres in Nsanje District effectively halting their operations.

Nsanje District Hospital spokesperson George Mbotwa could not be reached for his comment, but in an earlier interview confirmed that floods pose challenges to delivery of health services at the facility.

“Of late, floods have been causing challenges at the health centre, causing the district health office to temporarily close it,” he said.

In such situations, the facility medical assistant Mphatso Kasoso said patients are referred to the district hospital.

“Every year, we close the facility for a month or more due to floods and we refer our patients to the district hospital,” he said.

The health centre management committee member Holman Malunga urged government to find solution to the problem.

“Some rivers here changed their courses. We, therefore, need to drench their beds and divert their course to prevent the floods.

“That aside, we need to build dykes and close some gates around the facility and open new ones,” he said at a meeting organised by Kaudzu and Kanyama Reflection Action Circle under the Partnership for Social Accountability (PSA) Project.

Health activists have, however, raised concern that government should find a lasting solution to the problem so that health service delivery is not compromised.

The post Mbenje, Makhanga health centres suspend operations first appeared on The Nation Online.