National Lotteries Board hands over K72 million maternity wing in Mulanje
The National Lotteries Board (NLB) on Saturday handed over a maternity wing it has built at Chisitu Health Centre in Mulanje.
The wing has cost NLB K72 million. NLB Chief Executive Off icer, Mas ter Maliro, said the facility was built using funds from the gambling levy.
Maliro said the maternity wing will reduce the distance expectant mothers cover to get to Mulanje District Hospital or Mulanje Mission Hospital.
“We are very happy that today we have handed over this facility. It is our hope that communities will take good care of the maternity wing,” Maliro said.
He appealed to Malawians to patronise legal betting centres and to avoid indulging in illegal betting.
Senior Chief Chikumbu hailed NLB for the facility which, she said, will help promote safe motherhood in the area.
Mulanje District Medical Officer, Dr Pempho Nyangulu, urged parents to desist from forcing children into early marriages.
“This facility is for adults. We don’t want to see children as young as 13 years coming here. Children are supposed to be in school and not in labour wards,” Nyangulu said.
Member of Parliament for the area, Kondwani Nankhumwa, who is also Minister of Local Government, thanked NLB for the facility.
Nankhumwa assured NLB that communities in the area will take care of the facility.
