Director of Health and Social Services for the district, Dr. Stalin Zinkanda, says that the treatment unit was designed to accommodate five patients but there is need to extend it to accommodate at least to 20 patients equipping it with patient monitors and high flow oxygen supplies.

"There is need to take urgent steps to extend Kasinthula emergency treatment unit which is now small to accommodate increasing numbers of patients with severe symptoms," said Dr Zinkanda.

Dr. Zinkanda said although Electricity Generation Company, (EGENCO) has given them space at Kapichira which is under renovation, there is need to extend the existing unit by providing it with additional equipment mainly patient monitors and High Flow Oxygen supplies.

He was speaking when Malawia Red Cross Society donated assorted items to the District Council such as tapped water tanks, buckets, soap and bottles of sanitizers to 10 schools, five markets and Chikombe border post to prevent the spread of Covid 19.

Malawi Red Cross Society official, Mercy Chalimba, said they have also donated some items like blankets at Kasinthula Treatment Unit.

Since April 2020 to date, Chikwawa has registered 137 COVID 19 cases, 57 recoveries and eight deaths.