By Manasse Nyirenda

Rumphi, March 18, Mana: Rumphi District Health Office (DHO) has turned into a pharmacy a new structure that was meant to serve as dispensary for a paying section at the facility.

This comes after the initial pharmacy was razed down by fire in October 2023, causing loss of drugs worth millions of money and great damage to the structure.

Spokesperson for Rumphi DHO, Bwanalori Mwamlima, confirmed in an interview on Monday that the new structure built with Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) funds is now serving as main pharmacy for the district hospital and its feeder facilities. 

He said the pharmacy has greatly improved the quality of health service delivery at the facility.

Initially, the structure was meant to act as a dispensary for paying services. However, after a fire accident that gutted the main pharmacy, this building has become handy.

"Currently, it is being used as the main pharmacy, which houses the main bulk store for essential medicines and medical supplies. This is where we keep health commodities, where user departments at the district hospital, as well as health Centre’s, place their orders," he said.

Chairperson for Health and Environment Committee at Rumphi District Council, Alfred Butao, said the new pharmacy has brought big relief to people in the district. 

A resident of the district, Tiwonge Mvula, said he was glad that people are able to access drugs through the new pharmacy after main pharmacy was destroyed by fire.

GESD is a World Bank funded Malawi Government performance based grant to councils across the country which meet certain conditions, including adhering to audit requirements, among others.

Through this funding, Rumphi District Council has constructed eight structures, which include two market shelters, teacher development Centre (TDC), police unit, and a girls’ hostel, among others.