Covid-19 cases overwhelm Qech

A senior official at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (Qech) has said the facility is overwhelmed with Covid-19 cases.

Qech Director Samson Mndolo said the hospital had 30 admissions of confirmed cases, with some suspected cases isolated within the hospital while waiting for tests while other people were waiting for their results.

Mndolo said this when Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda visited the facility to appreciate efforts being made in the fight against Covid-19.

“The main challenge is staff. We have told the minister that we need more boots on the ground. If we collapse, it will not be because of the numbers of patients but the [small] number of health workers. On top of the confirmed cases admitted here, even the suspected cases also require 24-hour care,” he said.

Mndolo, however, said the hospital had sufficient gas installations for all the patients in need of oxygen.

On her part, Kandodo Chiponda said she was satisfied with how the hospital was coping with challenges which Covid-19 cases were posing to health workers.

“We came to appreciate the challenges which the hospital is facing in the fight against Covid-19.

“This is a big hospital with a lot of patients to take care of. You should know that the hospital is also taking care of patients with other conditions other than Covid-19.

“It is, therefore, important that, while we are helping Covid-19 patients, we do not lose sight of the other patients,” she said.

Before visiting Qech, the minister visited Mtakataka Police Training School and Mapanga Prison Training School, where she inspected preparatory works on two centres designated as isolation centres for Malawians returning from other countries.

Yesterday alone, 227 cases of Covid-19 were recorded, 210 of which are local transmissions.

Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 Co-chairperson John Phuka said this is the highest number yet.