Karonga DHO commissions K3.2 billion oxygen plant

Karonga District Health Office (DHO) has commissioned a K3.2 billion medical oxygen plant to produce onsite oxygen for Karonga District Hospital as well as Chitipa and Rumphi.

The project, funded through the Health Services Joint Fund, a pooled financing mechanism supported by several development partners to the tune of $1.846 million, has ended more than two decades of dependence on supplies from hospitals in Lilongwe and Mzuzu.

Karonga district director of health and sanitation David Sibale said in an interview on Monday that they commissioned the facility last week after contractor E-Trading handed over the plant to the district council.

He said the plant is already operational with only the official commissioning by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation pending.

Said Sibale: “The plant will significantly reduce costs we previously incurred in transporting oxygen from other districts such as Lilongwe and Mzuzu.

“It will not only serve Karonga District Hospital but also neighbouring districts, including Chitipa and Rumphi. Most importantly, it will ensure a reliable 24-hour supply of medical oxygen, unlike in the past when patients were often affected by supply interruptions.”

Welcoming the development, a guardian, Christina Mbale, said the plant will ease the financial burden on families and improve access to life-saving treatment.

“Patients will now receive treatment here at Karonga District Hospital, reducing the number of referrals to distant hospitals,” she said.

Meanwhile, Karonga District Council chairperson Atusaye Mwenifumbo said the council has also implemented several other development projects through the Health Resources Fund.

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