Karonga, February 19, Mana: Construction of a K140 million maternity wing at Mlare in Karonga, under the jurisdiction of Paramount Chief Kyungu, is expected to alleviate the problems women in the area have been facing in accessing quality maternal healthcare services.

The newly constructed maternity wing at Mlare Dispensary, funded through the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) initiative, has transformed the facility into a comprehensive health center an upgrade which will significantly benefit over 180,000 people residing in the surrounding areas.

Speaking Wednesday, Janet Kondowe, a resident of Mwambero Village, expressed her gratitude, saying: "Expectant mothers from distant villages like Mphuwi spend over K15,000 on travel to deliver at Nyungwe Health Centre or Karonga District Hospital, with some even giving birth at home or en route. However, with the new maternity wing at Mlare, these challenges will become a thing of the past, as maternal services are now readily accessible."

Facility in charge for Mlare Dispensary Suzgika Shaba hailed the council for the construction of the martenity wing which she said will upgrade the dispensary into a health center.

"Being a health center, we will now be offering services like; delivery, Under 5 Clinic, antenatal services and immunization which will go a long way 8n offering quality health services for the people who surround this area,"Shaba said.

"The dispensary was opened in 2012 and it serves a population of 180 thousand people who were traveling over 50 kilometres to get to the Karonga District Hospital. Pregnant women from Mphuwu which is a very remote village could not manage to make the trip but now with this martenity wing close, mothers will be delivering here at the hospital not at home as was the case,"she added.

According to the Acting Director of Public Works for Karonga District Council, Yamikani Bokosi, an incenarator and an ash pit have also been constructed at the site.