Communities have roles to play in health matters

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 19:44:09 +0000

By A Correspondent

COMMUNITIES should not depend on health institutions alone to protect them from certain harmful activities but also act on their own, says Nyanje Mission Hospital Environmental Health Technician (EHT) officer Gibbs Siwale.

Mr Siwale told women at the under-five clinic in Nyanje village on Friday that every community had the potential to ensure good health was maintained.

He said community members, in fact, knew and understood their problems better which meant that they were also capable of finding solutions to health challenges.

“Why should you think that it is only the hospital that can end certain issues in your community? It is no wonder despite health institutions’ efforts, you find the cases of poor health continue.

“The health staff advise you to drink chlorinated water or boiled water but if you don’t do that in your homes what can we do? “We tell you the dangers of cholera but you fail to keep your surrounding clean, what can we do?

“You know better than us about HIV/AIDS but surely do you need health officers to be following you wherever you go?” he asked.

Mr Siwale said that people had all the ability and strength to keep their communities safe from diseases, adding that it was not fair to leave everything to the hospital.

He further explained the dangers of malaria to children and pregnant mothers, advising them to always sleep under treated mosquito nets.