chilanga CCAP health centre
The plan for building a health clinic near Makupo village came out of talks with local villagers about their needs for future projects for the Makupo Development Group. Despite the presence of a government hospital in Kasungu, about 8 km away, there was an urgent need for services.
Various key players, including the local member of parliament, the senior chief, Kaomba, the District Health officers and local mission authorities were approached for their support. The mission CCAP (Church of Central Africa Presbyterian) provided the land just across the road from the village of Makupo. Carl Mulvey, a Canadian architect with EKM Architecture in Montreal, drew up a detailed plan, taking into account the needs of the population and the environment in which the health centre would be built.
The plan called for the Makupo Development Group to begin construction and hire workers until the project had met the Malawi government’s criteria for a fully-funded clinic. This process started in 2014 with the laying of the foundation, and the moulding and burning of bricks.
By 2019, the first two phases of the main building and two staff houses had been completed. An incinerator and outdoor toilets were built and secure shelving for drugs, supplies and medical records installed. The construction of a well was completed and the wires necessary for the electrical hookup strung. Final inspections were done by the Malawi Medical Council and the clinic was approved and included in the medical budget for 2019.
Final accreditation took place in 2021 and the handover has now been completed. The Health Centre now has 30 employees paid by the government at government rates and serves a catchment area of over 27,000 rural residents. Daily operations are very capably handled by Clinical Officer, Mike Besten, assisted by Susan Maoza, Head Nurse/Midwife and other medical staff. The centre currently offers a wide variety of services, including palliative care, an under-five clinic, HIV testing, cervical cancer screening, and out-patient, ante-natal and youth-friendly services.
However, there is still more to be done. While the government has taken over responsibility for the health services, they are not responsible for infrastructure improvements. The Health Centre Board and staff have outlined a number of priorities: expanding the solar energy network, expanding current plumbing facilities to allow the installation of flush toilets, and building new and improved staff housing for employees. MDG is now focusing its efforts on these priorities.
Various key players, including the local member of parliament, the senior chief, Kaomba, the District Health officers and local mission authorities were approached for their support. The mission CCAP (Church of Central Africa Presbyterian) provided the land just across the road from the village of Makupo. Carl Mulvey, a Canadian architect with EKM Architecture in Montreal, drew up a detailed plan, taking into account the needs of the population and the environment in which the health centre would be built.
The plan called for the Makupo Development Group to begin construction and hire workers until the project had met the Malawi government’s criteria for a fully-funded clinic. This process started in 2014 with the laying of the foundation, and the moulding and burning of bricks.
By 2019, the first two phases of the main building and two staff houses had been completed. An incinerator and outdoor toilets were built and secure shelving for drugs, supplies and medical records installed. The construction of a well was completed and the wires necessary for the electrical hookup strung. Final inspections were done by the Malawi Medical Council and the clinic was approved and included in the medical budget for 2019.
Final accreditation took place in 2021 and the handover has now been completed. The Health Centre now has 30 employees paid by the government at government rates and serves a catchment area of over 27,000 rural residents. Daily operations are very capably handled by Clinical Officer, Mike Besten, assisted by Susan Maoza, Head Nurse/Midwife and other medical staff. The centre currently offers a wide variety of services, including palliative care, an under-five clinic, HIV testing, cervical cancer screening, and out-patient, ante-natal and youth-friendly services.
However, there is still more to be done. While the government has taken over responsibility for the health services, they are not responsible for infrastructure improvements. The Health Centre Board and staff have outlined a number of priorities: expanding the solar energy network, expanding current plumbing facilities to allow the installation of flush toilets, and building new and improved staff housing for employees. MDG is now focusing its efforts on these priorities.
