By Burnett Munthali
A prolonged power outage at Ndamera Health Center in Nsanje District has brought essential health services to a standstill, with a faulty transformer, damaged four weeks ago, at the root of the problem. Without reliable power, the facility has struggled to maintain critical operations, particularly in the maternity wing and drug storage room, where electricity is crucial for safe and efficient service.
Mary Mainje, the Health Center’s in-charge, has highlighted the severe impact of the outage, explaining that midwives are forced to use torches to assist expectant mothers during nighttime deliveries. “Our backup power system is insufficient to support the entire facility, leaving us without adequate lighting or essential equipment,” Mainje stated. The lack of power is not only compromising delivery procedures but also jeopardizing drug and vaccine safety. “Drugs and vaccines are being damaged due to unfavorable temperatures because we don’t have any cooling system to maintain the required conditions,” she added.
The consequences of the outage are being felt beyond the health center as well. Bashir Ramozan Mahomed, a local business owner at Ntowe Market, expressed frustration over the situation, saying that his business has also suffered. Without a reliable power supply in the area, his operations have been negatively impacted, highlighting the broader community effects of the prolonged outage.
In response, ESCOM Public Relations Manager Kitty Chingota acknowledged the transformer issue but did not provide a definitive timeline for the repair. “We are in the process of procuring a 500 kVA transformer for the area, which will be installed as soon as all procedures are finalized,” Chingota said, assuring the public that ESCOM is working to resolve the issue in the shortest time possible.
For now, however, the staff and patients at Ndamera Health Center, along with the surrounding community, are left waiting and hoping for a swift resolution to restore essential services and improve conditions for those relying on the facility.
