Rural masses will continue to walk long distances to access health services as there is little government commitment to allocate resources for health posts’ construction, it has emerged.

One of the World Health Organisation (WHO) universal health coverage goals recommends a formal health facility within a five kilometre (km) radius.

However, according to Unicef, barely 46 percent of Malawi’s population has access to a formal health facility within such radius while only 20 percent of the population lives within 25 kilometre (km) of a hospital.

To increase access to healthcare, the Malawi Government in 2020 announced plans to construct 900 health posts nationwide with initial 55 facilities to be jointly funded by the Global Fund.

Ngwale: The plans are mere dreams

The Global Fund pumped in K4 billion while the government was to provide K9 billion.

However, Ministry of Health analysis of the 2023/24 National Budget expenditures shows that only 20 health posts are under construction, with progress at 75 percent. 

Reads the document in part: “Five lots out of 19 of health posts are under construction. This represents 20 health posts out of 55 health posts.

“The sites include Dedza, Mzimba North, Phalombe, Thyolo, Mwanza, Neno, Kasungu and Nchisi.”

The ministry cites lack of funds for the development budget as a major challenge in the implementation of the projects.

Ironically, an analysis of the proposed 2024/25 National Budget says the  Ministry of Health is planning to build 200 health posts at a cost of K68 billion, but Treasury has given a ceiling of K2 billion for the project, creating a K66 billion gap.

This raises questions as to whether the ministry will meet its target.

Ministry of Health spokesperson Adrian Chikumbe asked for more time to comment on the matter.

But in May 2021, he told The Nation that the project would start with 55 health posts after the Global Fund committed the resources for five-roomed structures and three staff houses for two health surveillance assistants and a nurse.

Parliamentary Committee on Health chairperson Mathews Ngwale said it is disappointing that the government cannot construct the 55 health posts.

He said government is not serious about reducing the distance people walk to health facilities, but also achieve universal health coverage by 2030.

“Plans for 200 health posts in the 2024/25 financial year are mere dreams as K2 billion can achieve little,” he said.

The post Funding affects K13bn health posts projects first appeared on The Nation Online.

The post Funding affects K13bn health posts projects appeared first on The Nation Online.