A charity organization, Friends of Mponda, has donated 500 thousand kwacha assorted items to 65 mothers in the maternity ward at Machinga District Hospital as a way of celebrating the birthday of its Executive Director, Asma Mponda.

Deputy minister of health, Enock Phale says his ministry is committed to upgrade health centres in the country into rural hospitals to serve a huge number of people who travel long distances in need of proper medical attention.

Some ten nurses working on locum basis at Machinga District Hospital have expressed worry over allowance delays, saying hospital authorities have not settled their K30, 000 monthly payments since December last year.