By Wellington Sibale

Neno, May 9, Mana: Partners in Health (PIH), locally known as Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Malawi’s health sector by handing over a newly established High Dependency Unit (HDU) worth over K452 million to Neno District Hospital.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, PIH Executive Director, Basimenye Nhlema, said the HDU aims to reduce the number of critically ill patients referred to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre thereby improving access to critical care services in the district.

She said the HDU unit, which cost approximately K195 million for renovations and around K257 million for medical equipment, is expected to significantly enhance patient outcomes in the district.

“Previously, critically ill patients had to endure long and treacherous journeys to Blantyre, often resulting in loss of life enroute due to poor road conditions,” said Nhlema.

She highlighted the long-standing gap in Malawi’s healthcare system, where critical care services are generally available only at tertiary facilities.

“Secondary facilities like Neno have lacked adequate support. With this HDU, we aim to bridge that gap and save lives locally,” she said.

Nhlema also acknowledged financial support from the Wyss Medical Foundation and emphasized PIH’s continued investment in healthcare personnel.

She disclosed that so far, 15 nurses and four clinicians have received specialized training at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital to ensure the HDU operates effectively.

Neno District Hospital’s Director of Health Services, Dr. Enock Ndalama, hailed the development as both historic and transformative for the district’s healthcare delivery.

He thanked PIH and its partners, noting that the facility will also serve nearby districts like Mwanza.

“We are very grateful to PIH for this gesture. This marks a historic moment for healthcare in Neno. We also thank the Wyss Medical Foundation for their generous funding,” he said.

Neno District Council Chairperson, Joseph Chiphaliwali, echoed the appreciation, stressing that the facility would address the long-standing challenge of transporting critically ill patients over long distances.

“The poor state of our roads has often led to fatalities during patient transfers. With this facility, we expect a significant reduction in such cases,” he said.

The HDU is part of a broader health improvement initiative by PIH, which recently included the handover of two fully equipped ambulances and the construction of an emergency room at Zalewa Health Centre and PIH has pledged to continue working closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure sustainable healthcare improvements in the country.