Background
In today’s fast-paced world, access to healthcare services is paramount. While advancements in medical technology have transformed how we diagnose and treat diseases, transport plays an indispensable role of enabling individuals to physically reach healthcare facilities, especially in remote or underserved areas. Presence of efficient transport systems is also essential in ensuring equitable access to healthcare services for all individuals.
Despite the advancement in healthcare services for the past decades, most people in developing countries including Malawi still have to travel long distances and most of the times using poor road network systems to access healthcare services. Neno is one of the districts in the southern part of Malawi still suffering from unbearable poor road networks which has resulted in the preventable deaths of patients and pregnant women on the way to hospitals in the past years.
Partners In Health (PIH) Malawi, locally known as Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo, has been working in Neno district to provide improved quality health services to the people in the area and surrounding. The organization recognizes vital role played by transport in bridging the gap between healthcare providers and individuals living in remote or underserved areas. The organization has therefore made efforts in ensuring the people living in the district can easily access quality health care services.
Handing over of ambulances
In quest to resolve the challenge of transportation of patients in Neno district, Partners In Health (PIH) Malawi has been assisting the District Health Office in the district with transportation of patients across the district as well as fueling of the Ministry’s vehicles whenever in need. Recently, PIH procured three ambulances as a way of easing the burden of transportation in the district.
The ambulances are expected to strengthen referral systems between primary and secondary care facilities and consequently improve patient outcomes especially maternal and neonatal health outcomes in the district. The vehicles are estimated at an overall combined cost amounting to $123,963.92 and they were procuredwith support from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and WYSS Medical Foundation.
On 12th July, 2024, PIH Malawi handed over the three ambulances to Malawi government through the District Health Office in the district, reaffirming PIH Malawi’s commitment to supporting government’s efforts in strengthening health systems.
In her remarks, the Executive Director for PIH Malawi, Basimenye Nhlema, said PIH is committed to support Malawi government through the Ministry of Health in strengthening the health systems in the country therefore the coming in of the ambulances as one way of doing that in Neno district.
“PIH has been supporting Malawi government through the Ministry of Health in Neno district since the organization started working the country in 2007. We recently purchased three ambulances with support from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and Wyss Medical Foundation and today, we have handed them over to MoH through the District Health Office in Neno district.
“With the ambulances, we hope to improve patients’ outcomes especially in maternal and neonatal outcomes as well as curb most of the negative patient outcomes that are recorded in the district due to delayed transfer of patients from primary health centers,” said Nhema.
On top of the vehicles, the organization also committed to providing MoH with fuel amounting to 1,200 ltrs per month as well as support the maintenance and repairs of the ambulances to ease the cost of operating the vehicles.
Speaking during the handover, Neno District Hospital Director of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Dr. Enoch Ndarama, commended the organization for the timely support. He indicated that the coming in of the new ambulances in the district will assist in ensuring efficient and effective access to quality health care to the people in Neno.
PIH provides scholarships to strengthen the workforce of Ministry of Health staff.
PIH on scholarships to MoH Staff
As a way of strengthening the workforce of MoH staff in Neno district,PIH Malawi through its 2020 - 2026 strategic plan, made a commitment to accompany MoH to provide well trained and qualified staff in sufficient numbers to respond to health needs of the communities in the district.
To achieve this goal, PIH Malawi has been providing scholarships toMoH staff to upgrade their studies in different institutions in the country and outside Malawi. So far, 2 cohorts of 4 medical assistants have been supported to enrol with Malawi Adventist University, Malamulo Campus and upgrade to clinicians.
PIH has also recently signed a scholarship MOU for 2 MOH nurses that have been sponsored to go and train in Peri-operative Nursing Care at Kenyatta University in Kenya and currently, 4 others have also just enrolled with Malawi Adventist University, Malamulo Campus. The organization hopes to continue supporting MoH in this regards.
