By Loness Gwazanga
Blantyre, April 29, Mana: Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) could serve patients effectively only if it had about 2000 health workers, QECH Director, Dr Samson Mndolo has said.
He was speaking Tuesday when Deputy Minister of Defence, Chipiliro Mpinganjira visited the facility as part of a special cabinet committee on Coronavirus.
Mndolo said although the hospital needs more staff in the work of Covid-19, more health workers need to be employed as the country still has malaria, Tuberculosis and maternal health battles to fight.
“We are happy that the ministry is recruiting 2000 health workers to be posted across the country, but we would like to ask for consideration to recruit more.
“Currently, the hospital has about 1000 workers and if the number could be doubled, we shall have enough staff and the capacity to serve well,” said Mndolo.
Speaking after touring Kameza Quarantine Facility and Kamuzu College of Nursing apart from the referral hospital, Mpinganjira acknowledged the shortage of staff and promised government would address the issue.
“Indeed, the 2000 health workers we are about to recruit are not enough. In fact, we need additional 4000 to 5000 of them.
“I will present the issue to the special cabinet committee on Covid-19 as well as the Parliamentary Committee on Health for their necessary action,” he said.
Mpinganjira, therefore, said he was impressed with how the hospital, in collaboration with Blantyre District Health Office, was getting prepared in responding to Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Eye and Ear section at QECH has been closed in order to accommodate members of staff in the event that they contract the disease.
In addition, KCN Kameza Campus has now been turned into an isolation centre as the quarantine facility is currently under renovation.
“I am impressed with the work so far. This really shows how much the district is prepared to fight the disease. Government will provide all the necessary support to make sure we serve the nation,” said Mpinganjira.
