Health Workers Boycott Mosquito Nets Distribution

Health Workers Boycott Mosquito Nets Distribution

Beston Luka

Read Time: 1 min

Published: 20 November 2024

Deputy minister of Health Harima Saudi launching the exercise in Balaka recently

Health workers in Malawi's southern region, including those from Thyolo, Blantyre, Chiradzulu, and Phalombe, have halted the distribution of mosquito nets due to unpaid allowances.

The Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) and community volunteers were supposed to start the 2024 Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) mass distribution campaign but are demanding payment first. They're owed around K190,000 for a briefing and seven-day work.

According to Adrian Chikumbe, Ministry of Health spokesperson, the payment delays are caused by a system glitch at the bank used by the funding agency.

The ministry acknowledges the concerns and is working to resolve the issue, he said.

The campaign aims to distribute 11 million mosquito nets, benefiting 19.6 million people.

This is crucial, as Malawi recorded 6.4 million malaria cases and 1,670 deaths in 2023.

Health rights activist Maziko Matemba emphasizes the need for proper planning to avoid payment delays.

The situation highlights the challenges in implementing health campaigns and the importance of timely payments to health workers, he added.

Beston Luka

Luka Beston is a Malawian journalist and communications professional with a strong background in news writing, feature reporting, and media development. He is passionate about telling impactful human-interest stories that promote social change, good governance, and community empowerment. Over the years, Luka has contributed to various media and development initiatives, producing compelling stories on health, education, gender, and youth empowerment. Known for his professionalism and storytelling skill, he continues to use the power of journalism to inform, inspire, and influence positive transformation in society.