BY BLAIR MHONE
As one way of increasing access to critical health care services during the fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ministry of health has increased testing centres across the country from 160 to 320.
The additional testing centres have been opened to supplement the country’s 15 molecular laboratories which are equipped to do Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests for Covid-19.
According to Ministry of Health Spokesperson, Adrian Chikumbe, additional personnel to man the centres has already been trained.
“One of the crucial areas in Covid-19 management is testing so that we can know the extent of the problem.
We had limited capacity which why we were recording few cases, but now we are reaching out to many people and areas,” said Chikumbe.
One of the country’s Epidimiologists Adamson Muula has since commended government but however said health personnel should not lose focus on other serious diseases.
“If we are not careful, we may put a burden on the health care system hence it is important to strengthen the whole system,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malawi Health Equity Network Executive Director George Jobe said the move would help the country understand the extent of the pandemic in Malawi.
On Wednesday 29 December, Malawi registered 1,103 positive cases with now 10, 814 active cases.
