By Solister Mogha
Zomba, May 4, Mana: Vice President Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima is impressed with quality of work at Domasi Community Hospital, Chancellor College and Cobbe Barracks in Zomba saying the tax payers’ money is worth it.
Chilima made the remarks on Tuesday when he visited Domasi where he inspected community hospital and Chancellor College where he appreciated works at Department of Economics and other college infrastructures which were constructed with African Development Bank (ADB) funding.
At the Malawi Defence Force (MDF), Cobbe Baracks, the Vice President toured roads project and a military clinic.
Speaking at a press briefing at Cobbe Barracks, Chilima said MDF needs more and modern structures but added the old offices at the barracks cannot be demolished since they serve as monumental structures.
“I have inspected three things here at Cobbe, the offices, the road construction within the barracks and the hospital.
“In all the sites, one issue that kept coming out was inadequate funding. I will be talking to Treasury to release the remaining funds to complete the projects so that they start serving Malawians,” he said.
On Domasi project, the Vice President described the community hospital as one of the reform area in the Ministry of Health which focuses on the provision of quality health services to people than people walking long distances to access the services.
“What we saw in the period of Covid-19 were calls for more health facilities and the Domasi Community Hospital will help in decongesting Zomba Central Hospital while widening the provision of health services in the district and surrounding areas,” Chilima said.
Domasi Community Hospital which has a 45 bed capacity is being financed by Malawi Government to the tune of K4.2 billion and will have, among other sections, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), maternity, laboratory, theatre, x-ray and a mortuary.
On the construction of Department of Economics at Chancellor College, the Vice President said he was impressed to see growth within the University of Malawi and he expressed hope that the department will increase its intake.
“Generally I am impressed with the progress of work and in August I will come back to see how far we have gone since I have been promised that the structure will be completed by November 30 this year,” he said as Paramount Holdings Limited expects to wind up construction works in November this year.
Member of Parliament for Zomba Malosa, Grace Kwelepeta, said some people that were displaced at the site where the Domasi Community Hospital is being constructed haven’t received compensation yet.
He also said the new hospital needs a fence for safety and security, observing that the hospital plan overlooked the securing element.
Consulting Engineer at the community hospital, Daniel Mukhumbwa, said it was true that the initial plan did not include the fence but added the cement block fence is already estimated at K250 million.
Three Malawian contractors, Maoni, Blithe and Union are currently working at the community hospital which started in 2013 but meet challenges such as low funding from the government.
After touring the three projects, Chilima held meeting with officials from Zomba City and District Councils to discuss public reforms.
