Health workers at Santhe Health Centre in Kasungu District, say the lack of backup electricity in the Outpatient Department (OPD) is negatively affecting service delivery, especially at night when ESCOM power goes off.

Speaking to Zodiak Online on Wednesday, Officer Incharge for the facility, Edger Pezengu, said it becomes difficult to attend to emergency cases at night during power outages because the department is left in total darkness.

"OPD is a very important section at each and every facility as it operates for 24 hours hence the need no have power supply whole day. 

If we receive an emergency at night particularly when there is blackout, it becomes very challenging to attend to, and this affects our efficiency and compromises patient care," he said.

Pezengu has since appealed to relevant authorities to urgently look into the matter and consider installing solar-powered electricity in the OPD, so as to ensure uninterrupted service delivery whenever there is a blackout.

Meanwhile, Kasungu District Health Office Spokesperson, Isaac Mwavuli, said the concern is valid and assured that they will strive to seek support to have solar power installed in the department, with the aim of improving health service delivery.

"We acknowledge the challenge at Santhe Health Centre. We will engage relevant stakeholders to explore possible support for installing solar power in the OPD to ease the burden and ensure quality service delivery and patient care", Mwavuli concluded.

Currently, it is only the maternity wing and laboratory room at the facility that are connected to solar power.