As the saying goes, "a stitch in time saves nine," people in remote and hard-to-reach areas continue to face difficulties in accessing health services from distant facilities. Chronic diseases and preventable deaths are common in such populations due to delayed treatment and a lack of nearby health facilities.

In Thukutu, Chitende, and Mponela, in the area of Principal Group Village Head Mponela, Traditional Authority (TA) Wasambo in Chilumba, Karonga district, residents have faced similar challenges for decades. 

However, the introduction of village clinics eight years ago has positively impacted lives and reduced deaths among children under five.

Matilda Makwakwa, a mother of one in Thukutu village, noted that the construction of a village clinic has alleviated the burden of traveling long distances to distant health facilities. 

"We can now take our children to a nearby health facility anytime without worrying about distance and transport costs," she explained. The distance to Chilumba rural hospital has been reduced from 14 kilometers to less than one kilometer, benefiting Thukutu, Chitende, and Mponela alike.

The Urban Research and Advocacy Centre (URAC), a local non-governmental organization, is implementing this project under the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiative. 

The funding is provided by Malawi Friends in Rottenburg, Germany. In addition to the clinics, URAC has drilled 14 boreholes in the Chilumba area. The three village clinics serve over 17,000 people, each clinic equipped with a borehole and electricity for 24-hour service delivery.

URAC Executive Director, Dr. Mtafu Manda, emphasized their focus on providing health and sanitation services to people in remote areas. 

"These clinics rely on Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) who sometimes operate under tree shades, from churches or school buildings, or from rented houses," he said.

Each clinic includes a lounge and two bedrooms for HSA accommodation, along with consultation and treatment rooms.

Anganire Nyanyengo, an HSA at Mponela Village clinic, said that her presence at the clinic allows under-five children to access health services at any time.

 "I encourage women to bring their children here immediately when they fall sick. I am available 24/7," she said. 

Living rent-free in the clinic motivates her to work diligently.

GVH Kamtenthenga of Thukutu area noted that child mortality rates have decreased. However, challenges remain for pregnant women and the elderly, who still struggle to reach Chilumba rural hospital, especially during summer's heat and rainy seasons.

The nearest hospital, St. Annies, charges fees that few villagers can afford.

Principal GVH Mponela suggests expanding village health facilities to better accommodate the elderly, expectant mothers, and adults with disabilities. 

URAC also takes responsibility for sourcing additional medicines, facility maintenance, and referral transportation by providing motorbikes to the HSAs.

By Adams Wundaminge & Shamuda Drake