Action Hope Malawi, a non-governmental organisation, on Tuesday engaged communities in Zomba District to empower them in medical drug safety to ensure a healthy and productive life for people in the district.

Speaking on Tuesday when the organisation hosted a review meeting to wind up its one-year Health Facility Drug Accountability project, Action Hope Malawi executive director Sammy Aaron said he was impressed with the outcome of the initiative.

It was learnt  during the meeting that  communities through health centre advisory committees, area development committees, community policing, market committees as well as transporters in rural areas are able to follow up on any medical drug transactions happening in the health facilities.

Aaron stressing a point
during the meeting

“The time is ripe for the project to phase out, but we are impressed to see that the gaps that were there before in medical drugs management in health facilities between health workers and the communities have been filled,” he said.

Nasawa Health Centre advisory committee chairperson Daniel Juma said apart from tracking medical drugs transactions from government and their use at the end of the month, the project has also helped the communities to understand how health workers operate.

“The communities are able to understand that clinicians, nurses and other health workers are human beings too that need time to rest,” he said.

Thondwe Police Post community policing coordinator Robert Njalammano said last year, police arrested three people in connection with theft of medical drugs and other medical equipment.

He said funds permitting, they would prefer mobile courts to try medical drug theft suspects in the villages to deter other would-be offenders.

“Let us remember that medical drugs in public health facilities are meant to save lives of people who cannot afford to be treated in private hospitals,” said Njalammano.

The organisation was implementing the project in Lambulira, Thondwe and Nasawa hree health facilities with support from Tilitonse Foundation.

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