Likoma islanders demand District Health Office

People at Likoma Island, whose district health officer is stationed at Nkhata Bay boma are demanding answers from the government why the senior medical officer is not stationed at his place of work. [caption id="attachment_97864" align="alignright" width="600"] Likoma Island[/caption] [caption id="attachment_97863" align="alignright" width="500"] Likoma[/caption] District health officers shun Likoma island because it lacks many services as it is a small island on Lake Malawi and they prefer Nkhata Bay where services like banks are readily available. Transport is also a problem from the Island to the mainland and most often there are boat accidents. District Health Officer for Likoma Bongani Chikwapulo who stays at Nkhata Bay District Hospital says he would give reasons to the islanders once he visits the island soon, he did not say exactly when. The Islanders, who also include some medical personnel, say the absence of a senior medical officer at the island has made health services dwindle drastically. They say junior medical officers fail to get guidance when they face illness complications and the only way is to send patients to Nkhata Bay Hospital which they say can take hours or even days before transport is sourced. TheY accused Chikwapulo of visiting the Island once or twice a month. Former President Bakili Muluzi declared Likoma a district, delinking it from Nkhata Bay a move that attracted criticism from social commentators who said the island is too small to be a district and did not have adequate amenities to warrant it a full district. They said the population is too small to elevate it to a full district status.