Dressed in nurse’s attire Minister of Health and Sanitation Madalitso Baloyi has joined health workers mainly midwives at Mangochi istrict Hospital maternity wing this night to see herself the challenges health workers are facing at the facility.
Baloyi’s visit follows the complaints by Rodrick Chiwaya a member of Parliament for Mangochi Municipality who lamented in Parliament that Maternity wing section at the hospital if facing several challenges like shortage of workers, limited bed space and lack of guardians shelter.
The minister told media that she has come to see the problems personally and have experience of working environment that the staff operate as well as challenges faced by patients and guardians.
“I want to take time working alongside midwives on night shift. I am here till morning. I want to have a first hand what are challenges that health workers are facing as they are trying to deliver quality service for expectant mothers and newly born babies,” said Baloyi.
Mangochi District Hospital Senior Nurse Officer Oliver Ngwira said the hospital has 110 midwives covering 8 departments but they facility needs 300 midwives.
Ngwira added that the Labour ward at the district hospital has 28 midwives who work in shift of six between day and night but the ward need 40 midwives.
She further said that the facility through its maternity wing records about 50 births everyday.
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