Inadequate collaboration affecting Zomba Mental Hospital operations

Stakeholders have singled out inadequate collaboration as one of the factors paralyzing the operations of Zomba Mental Hospital.

The stakeholders made the sentiments during a consultative meeting, which was organized under the theme: Realigning strategic mandate towards MW2063 through partnerships and collaboration.

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Speaking during the interview, Dr Raphael Lawrence Piringu, who is a Director for Zomba Mental Hospital, said as a mental hospital, they have invited many stakeholders like banks, media, police and others to intervene in order to improve mental health issues in the country.

“Our expectation is to see things moving different in favour of Mental health issues,” said Piringu.

He asked well-wishers to assist them with financial resources for building hostels as well as houses for the nurses.

Phiri said workers are currently operating from distant places, which affect their performances.

“We have a shortage of houses as well as shortage of nurses and doctors. We were supposed to have 333 nurses, but as of now, we only have 65 nurses,” he said.

In his comment, Dr Michael Udedi, Assistant Director of Curative and Medical Rehabilitation Services responsible for mental health in the Ministry of Health, said there is a need for a support towards improving the welfare of patients.

Zomba Mental Hospital was built in 1950 and started its services in 1953 as national referral psychiatric hospital and it has 400-bed capacity with 1500 to 2000 patients a year.