Deputy Health Minister Charles Chilambula has announced plans to upgrade Limbe Health Centre into a fully-fledged community hospital.
The minister made the announcement on Monday during an inspection tour of the facility.
Among the key issues raised were concerns about security and sanitation at the health centre. According to the facility’s in-charge, Dorah Mwafuirwa, the hospital currently has only two security guards, a situation that has led to frequent security lapses.
She added that the facility is also overwhelmed as it attends to between 7,000 and 10,000 patients per month.
Speaking after the tour, Chilambula noted that although the facility is officially designated as a community hospital, it is still lagging in service delivery to fully meet that status.
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“On paper, this facility is a community hospital. Once the upgrade is done, we expect to introduce new services and improve those that are already in place,” Chilambula said.
Among the proposed improvements, the deputy minister cited the introduction of a dental unit, radiology services, and the upgrading of the laboratory to provide more tests, including blood transfusions. This will in turn said help decongest Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and other major referral health facilities in the southern region.
“At a community hospital, there should be a functional theatre and a larger maternity wing than what is currently available,” he said.
According to Chilambula, the designs for the hospital are expected to be completed in March or April, with actual construction work likely to begin around August. The exact timeline and available resources will be confirmed once preliminary preparations are finalised.
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For short-term solutions to other challenges, the ministry, in collaboration with the Blantyre City Council, plans to increase the number of security guards. Meanwhile, a World Bank-funded project will support the construction of additional pit latrines at the facility.
Blantyre Deputy Mayor Gerald Lipikwe acknowledged the deteriorating state of sanitation services and the urgent need to improve service delivery at Limbe Health Centre.
“This facility has a number of challenges, and we are hopeful that with the intervention of the deputy minister, these issues will be resolved,” he said.
Previously, the facility relied on assistance from community members to help provide security support alongside guards employed by the government.
