Women in Traditional Authority Mzukuzuku in Mzimba District have expressed excitement with the construction of a maternity block at Vibangalala Health Post in the area.

Speaking in an interview on Wednesday when Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda inspected the facility, Monica Kumwenda from Chimombo Jere Village said expectant women were travelling long distances to Embangweni Mission Hospital to deliver.

“Vibangalala Health Post does not offer admission services. Expectant women were being referred to Mzimba District Hospital or Embangweni Mission Hospital. But with this structure, pregnant women will deliver nearby,” she said.

Another woman Grace Jere said they spend K5 000 to go to Embangweni or Mzimba District Hospital. We will now save money because we will get antenatal services at Vibangalala Health Post,” she said.

Chiponda inspects the maternity
block in Mzimba

A community member Alick Jere from Mhlaba Jere Village commended M’Mbelwa District Council for constructing the facility, saying it will promote safe motherhood.

On her part, the minister asked the council to complete installing furniture and other necessary materials for the facility.

“Women are walking long distances to other facilities to deliver. With this maternity block in sight, it will not be good to delay opening it,” she said.

M’Mbelwa District Council chairperson Morgan Tembo said they will look for funds to buy materials to open the facility in four months.

Vibangalala Health Post medical assistant Wisdom Nyirenda said on average, the facility serves 200 patients daily.

“We are a dispensary. This is why we refer most complex cases to other facilities. This includes women who come to deliver. However, with this maternity block, it means we will conduct deliveries right here,” he said.

The project cost K56 million from Governance to Enable Service Delivery fund.

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