Women in Chingale are set to benefit from improved access to quality maternity services following the construction of a new maternity wing at Chingale Health Centre, an initiative hailed by Zomba Chingale legislator William Susuwele Banda as a major boost to maternal healthcare in the area.
Banda said the new facility would significantly improve the delivery of maternity services, noting that the old maternity wing had a capacity of only two patients at a time, making it difficult to accommodate the needs of expectant mothers.
He said the new maternity wing would provide additional space, enabling more women to access essential maternal healthcare services in a more conducive environment.
The legislator made the remarks during the handover ceremony of the facility by Zomba District Council to the community.
The construction was financed by the World Bank through the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project.
Zomba District Council chairperson Basta Chirwa called on community members to take ownership of the new facility and ensure its proper maintenance to safeguard the investment and sustain the benefits for future generations.
Zomba District Medical Officer Gift Msafili said the health centre is expected to handle approximately 1,310 deliveries annually, highlighting the importance of the new maternity wing in strengthening healthcare delivery in the district.
