Lilongwe, June 22, 2026 — Patients seeking urgent treatment for dog bites at Bwaila Hospital in Lilongwe were left stranded on Monday after health workers responsible for administering anti-rabies vaccines failed to provide the service, citing procedural changes that had not been clearly communicated.
Malawi Freedom Network (MFN) understands that the disruption stemmed from a new arrangement requiring patients to first obtain anti-rabies vaccines from the hospital pharmacy before presenting them to vaccinators for administration.
However, several patients complained that the change was not adequately communicated, resulting in confusion among both patients and some healthcare personnel.Bwaila Media Club Donates Texts Books To Mpando CDSS
A visit to the facility found dozens of patients waiting for assistance, while others were reportedly turned away and advised to return home. Witnesses said only newly registered patients were being attended to, leaving many return patients uncertain about when they would receive their next doses.
“We came here expecting to receive treatment as scheduled, but we were told the vaccinators could not assist us. No one explained clearly what was happening,” complained one patient.
Anti-rabies treatment is considered critical following dog bites, as delays in vaccination can increase the risk of developing rabies, a disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
Affected patients have since called on health authorities to improve communication and ensure uninterrupted access to anti-rabies vaccines and related services.
When contacted for comment, Lilongwe District Health Office spokesperson Richard Mvula said he was not aware of the situation and would make inquiries before providing feedback. However, he had not responded by the time of publication.MCP mobilizes Lilongwe ahead of President Chakwera’s whistle-stop tour
The incident has raised concerns about service coordination at one of the country’s busiest referral health facilities, with patients urging authorities to address the confusion to prevent further disruptions in treatment.
