Communities around Nalunga in Traditional Authority Chiwere and Matekenya in Traditional Authority Msakambewa in Dowa are to have functioning health centres.

This follows a commitment made by stakeholders at Bwalo sessions conducted in their respective areas.

The Bwalos brought together Chiefs, over eight Village Development Committees, District Health officials, Theatre groups and Radio listener’s Club who raised the transport challenges and long distance to the health centre as main factors contributing negatively to maternal health.

In his remarks, Chairperson for the Msakambewa Bwalo Joseph Chirwa said the stakeholder made commitment to build a proper health centre at Matekenya.

“So far, the chiefs and their subjects have already contributed bricks and went further to dig the foundations at the spot where the health facility would be constructed,” said Chirwa.

The office of Dowa District Health office, (DHO) responded by that it would use CDF funds to construct a facility to make Matekenya health post into a health center.

On the transport aspect, the DHO’s office made a commitment to make the ambulance available for Matekenya on weekly basis.

On the other hand, Tikondane Bwalo in conjunction with Nalunga Radio Listener’s Club, has mobilized the community to contribute bricks for upgrade of Nalunga health center.

The Councilor of the area who is also the chair of Health and Environmental committee of the council, Councilor Gwazani has started soliciting proposals from well-wishers to upgrade the health facility.

Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) is currently implementing a project called under Every Woman Every Child (EWEC) in the district with the aim of ensuring accountability in issues of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health.