Last year, Afiness Feremu of Feremu Village in Traditional Authority Mlauli in Neno District lost two children to malaria.
In her view, she went through this agonising reality due to lack of timely access to medical care because of long distance to the nearest hospital.
From her village, it takes 18 kilometres to reach a private hospital and 24 kilometres to a government facility.
For years, Afiness and many others in Neno District have grappled with lack of health infrastructure within their reach.
Amidst all that adversity, there is reason for hope.
Government is constructing four health centres in hard-to-reach areas of Gonthi, Golden and Feremu in the district. This marks a significant milestone in the community’s healthcare access.
Group Village Headman July, one of the traditional leaders in the area, said women have been giving birth while on the road to the hospital.
He hoped that the health centre in his area will have a maternity wing so that women no longer travel long distance to the nearest facility.
Realizing the importance of having a health facility close to the people, Village Headman Gonthi gave up his land so that government could construct a health centre there.
Gonthi said the pain of losing his subjects due to the long distance to hospital has been too much to bear.
“I cannot wait for March [2024] for the hospital to be opened. This hospital is a relief to us,” he said.
Charity Samson, a youth activist in the district, said absence of healthcare facilities close by has led to the majority of youth in the district not enjoying full reproductive health choices.
She said this has resulted in a spike in teen pregnancies and HIV infection rate.
“Many young people are dropping out of school because of teen pregnancies. This couldn’t have been the case if they had access to reproductive information and services,” Samson said.
Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda said the significance of a hospital goes beyond mere convenience.
“It aligns with the World Health Organisation’s recommended distance to a hospital, ensuring that people have timely access to essential healthcare services,” she said.
Kandodo Chiponda disclosed that government expects to hand over 75 health centres to hard-to-reach communities in various districts by June 2024.
“The establishment of these facilities resonates with the goals outlined in Malawi Health Strategic Plan. By bridging the gap in healthcare infrastructure, it represents a tangible step towards achieving universal health coverage and improving health outcomes for all Malawians,” she said.
The health centres, constructed with funding from the Global Fund, have two houses each for medical personnel, a water tank and modern toilets.
According to National Statistics Office, Neno District has an estimated population of 168,000. It has two hospitals and 12 health facilities.