The Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) has commended President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika for his State of the Nation Address (SONA), which highlighted key initiatives aimed at improving the country’s health sector.
In a statement issued on Sunday, MEHN Board Chairperson, Yandura Chipeta, and the network Executive Director, George Jobe, welcomed the President’s commitment to constructing district hospitals in cities hosting districts, which is expected to reduce congestion at central hospitals. The organization also applauds the planned installation of dialysis services at Mzuzu Central Hospital, a move that will greatly benefit patients from the Northern Region.
However, MHEN emphasizes that the key to achieving these goals lies in allocating adequate funding to the health sector. “Increasing the health budget to 15% of the national budget is a step in the right direction, but it must be matched with tangible results,” said Chipeta and Jobe.
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“We commend the President’s firm stance against corruption and misuse of public resources, which we hope will stop the theft of medicines and medical supplies,” reads the statement.
MHEN has also made several recommendations to the government, including investing in medicines and medical supplies, constructing a modern military referral hospital, and prioritizing the completion of stalled projects.
“Adequate funding is crucial to improving health outcomes and providing quality care for Malawians. We urge the government to ensure that increased funding translates into better service delivery, including adequate staff, medicines, equipment, and accountability,” they emphasized.
MHEN has also welcomed the construction of Blantyre District Hospital, which aligns with their advocacy for district hospitals in city hosting districts.
The organization looks forward to seeing the implementation of these initiatives and urges the government to prioritize the health sector in its budget allocation.