Zomba Mental Hospital calls for funding

Zomba Mental Hospital has called on stakeholders and well-wishers to collaborate with the facility through funding and human resource that will assist smooth running of the hospital.

Director of the hospital Dr. Raphael Pilingu said this at the end of a one-day stakeholders meeting in Zomba, aimed at bringing awareness on how the hospital operates its activities and challenges it faces.

Dr Pilingu bemoaned lack of support for mental health services in Malawi citing the support given to other diseases such as covid 19, cholera but not mental illness.

The director also said the hospital needs 3.4 to 4 billion kwacha to meet all the needs this year.

In his remarks, guest of honor at the stakeholders meeting Dr. Michal Udedi, assistant director of curative and medical rehabilitation services and mental health in the ministry of health said the ministry is committed to provide necessary support including budget for mental health services in the country.

He said however, government resource might not be enough hence calling for support from other partners to support activities of zomba mental central hospital, as it is the only hospital that treat mental illness in Malawi since 1950

Dr. Michal Udedi, assistant director of curative and medical rehabilitation services and mental health in the ministry of health speaking to Taim Jimmy.

The stakeholders’ meeting was under the theme, realigning our strategic mandate towards Malawi 2063 through partnership and collaboration.

Zomba Mental Central Hospital has a capacity of 400 beds housing patients with mental illness.