Malawi is among the world's least developed and most densely populated countries. The economy is heavily based on agriculture, with a largely rural population. The Malawian government depends on donor aid.
According to a UNICEF report, the Malawian government faces challenges in economic growth, improving education, health care , environmental protection, and financially independence. Since 2005, Malawi has developed several programs that focus on these issues. The Ministry of Health seeks to achieve health for all Malawians by delivering health services and disseminating health information to all.The report further states that Malawi is on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goal number 4 that includes child mortality, maternal mortality, nutrition and HIV/AIDS. I sought some views from people on whether government is achieving adequate improvements in health.
Lewis Chirwa
Minibus Conductor
Yes. A good number of people with HIV/AIDS are getting ARV treatment, an indication that there is an improvement.
Peter Kazembe
Shop attendant
Yes! Most people now have access to health facilities because of availability of hospitals in the rural areas and the availability of medical personnel through out the country.
Emmanuel Phiri
Mechanic
No, the improvement is not there because the services in the health sector are not there for every citizen. Sometimes there is insufficient medicine in our hospitals and sometimes we talk about insufficient medical personnel. However one can notice marginal improvement if we compare to the state in the health sector in the past 6 to 10 years ago.
Lucy Chimaliro
Student, Corporate Governance College
No. The government is not achieving anything in the health sector because of poor services experienced in our hospitals such as inadequate accommodation, insufficient drugs and hospital personnel usually start their work very late.
Patrick Banda
Driver
My answer is yes. The government has been making great strides to help in the improvement of the health sector in the country. Take for example there is always a huge allocation of money to the Ministry of Health each year, the distribution of free ARVs to HIV/AIDS patients, and training more medical personnel.
Duncan Malata
Business man
I think that the government is not doing enough more especially in this 21st century when there are new diseases emerging. Why is that some patients are sent abroad to receive treatment when we have our own hospitals and well trained doctors in the country, and why do we hear that some modern medical equipment are found in private hospitals only and not in public hospitals?
Kettie Kumwenda
Student, Malawi College Accountancy
I can say both yes and no. Why? Despite construction of new hospitals in the country we still experience lack of adequate medical staff in our hospitals, lack of space in the main referral hospitals, poor sanitation, and above all inadequate medical supply. Even though the government is putting in an effort to improve the situation I think it could also involve the corporate world to help improve the situation.
Michael Chimwala
Reporter
My answer would probably be no. I have seen quite a number of individuals dying from curable diseases just because of lack of equipment, staff and worse still lack of medicine in our hospitals. I think if the government had been putting in an initiative these problems could have improved because its been quite some time since we been experiencing them in our hospitals.
Madalo Nyirenda
Secretary
I think the government is doing all its best to improve health care in the country not only in hospitals but also in other sectors more especially those involved in health research. I am saying this with evidence from the establishment of research institutions such as the Malawi Wellcome Trust, John Hopkins and the University of North Carlolina (UNC) just to mention a few. This institutions have worked hand in hand with the health ministry thereby trying to improve the health system in the country.