For some time now, unknown people have been stealing items at the district hospital ranging from mattresses, motorcycles, and even new-born babies, in some cases. Recently, a newly-fitted water equipment at the mortuary was stolen.

Aside from the use of compromised security firms, some medics noted that the rising theft was due to the lack of a perimeter fence on one side of the facility.

Thyolo District Commissioner Hudson Kuphanga confirmed on Monday that the hospital has lost a substantial figure of mattresses, adding that they already approached the Ministry of Health and well-wishers on the plea for a perimeter fence.

Kuphanga said: "I have on several occasions asked well-wishers to construct the fence and consider installing CCTV cameras to deter would-be thieves".

On concerns that the theft of the newly-fitted mortuary equipment was orchestrated by the insiders, Kuphanga said, "I have instructed the Director of Health and Social Services to issue a circular, warning all staff members and perpetrators against the vice."

Health rights activist George Jobe thinks that the authorities should first hold to account its security personnel for failure to guard against the meagre resources in the health sector.

"The fence is very important for safety. But CCTV cameras are partly effective because one can come while covered with a mask and the time you see the image, something has already been stolen. So we need, amidst all this, to know what has happened to the security guards. Sometimes, you would find out that nothing has happened it's just life as usual," he said.

Recently, the government committed to disburse about K850 million through the Hospital Rehabilitation Fund for the renovation of the the referral facility. The work is underway.