A visit by Zodiak Online Tuesday morning witnessed scores of women seeking maternal health help returning home unattended to.

They said they were told the facility has been closed down after some of the health workers were tested COVID-19 positive.

“I came here for ante-natal services but the hospital is not open. They say some nurses were tested COVID-19 positive and they want to disinfect the facility.

“When coming here, my hope was to be assisted. Apart from the ante-natal service, I also needed to be assisted on some issues but I am going back home unattended to,” said one of the pregnant women from Bangwe.

Another expectant woman from Bangwe said “as pregnant women, we need regular medical check-ups to avoid complications. Not everyone can afford private hospitals. There are some women who need to deliver.

“We are many of us who rely on public hospitals. Government should provide the health workers with protective equipment to serve us better.”

Blantyre District Director of Health Services, Dr. Gift Kawalazira, says the facility has been shut down to disinfect it.

“As you are aware that Blantyre district has registered seven cases of COVID-19 among health workers. Out of the seven, four come from Limbe Health Center so we think it is another hot spot that we need to do more to protect the general public and also the health workers.

“The idea is to close the hospital and disinfect it for at least a minimum of 48 hours and then we will open it,” he said.