By Suleman Chitera

Two newly constructed health posts have been handed over to Chiradzulu District Council, marking a significant step towards bringing essential healthcare services closer to communities that have for years travelled long distances to seek medical attention.

Ganizani Likhomo Building Contractors handed over the Ng’omba Health Post in the area of Senior Chief Chitera, while H and T Building Contractors handed over the Chimwalira Health Post in the area of Senior Chief Ntchema.

The facilities have been constructed through the World Bank-funded Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) programme, with the projects expected to ease the burden faced by communities that previously had to travel considerable distances to access primary healthcare.

Speaking during the handover ceremonies, Chiradzulu District Council Chairperson Alick Naphiyo described the development as an important milestone in improving healthcare delivery in the district.

Naphiyo said the opening of the two facilities would help bring primary healthcare services closer to people, reducing both the distance and costs associated with seeking medical attention.

“This marks the beginning of bringing primary healthcare services closer to our people,” Naphiyo said, stressing the importance of ensuring that communities benefit fully from the investment.

According to Chiradzulu District Director of Health Services, Dr Nelson Kamwana, the Ng’omba Health Post is expected to serve a population of more than 3,600 people, while the Chimwalira facility will cater for more than 6,500 residents.

The figures underline the importance of the facilities in expanding access to basic health services, particularly for communities that have previously faced geographical barriers to healthcare.

Member of Parliament for Chiradzulu Nyungwe Constituency, Mwayi Ndalama, welcomed the construction of the two health posts, saying the projects would make a meaningful difference to people in his constituency.

Ndalama said reducing the distance people have to travel for medical care would improve access to health services and could encourage more residents to seek treatment when they need it.

At Ng’omba, Senior Chief Chitera urged residents to make full use of the newly opened facility and avoid delaying or rejecting medical treatment because of religious beliefs.

She encouraged her subjects to develop a positive culture of seeking professional medical care whenever necessary, saying the availability of the health post provides an opportunity for the community to improve its health outcomes.

At Chimwalira, Senior Chief Ntchema appealed to community members to take responsibility for protecting and maintaining the new facility.

She urged residents to regard the health post as their own and work together to ensure that it remains functional and serves the community for many years.

The two health posts add to ongoing efforts to decentralise primary healthcare services in Chiradzulu by placing facilities closer to the populations they are intended to serve.

With thousands of people expected to benefit from the facilities, authorities and traditional leaders have called on communities to make effective use of the services while also protecting the infrastructure and supporting efforts to improve healthcare delivery at local level.