By Patience Lunda:

When public hospital land is encroached upon, the expansion of the facility, along with the security and privacy of patients, is put at risk.

This is the case for district health offices in the Northern Region, which are facing medium- to large-scale encroachment by communities.

Some have built houses, while others have opened farmlands, as The Daily Times has discovered.

For instance, in Nkhata Bay District, all 20 of its health facilities are facing encroachment, largely due to a lack of clear boundaries, among other factors.

The district’s Director of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Topcy Mdolo, said that the encroachment is hindering the further development of the facilities.

Mdolo added that the problem is also compromising the security of the health facilities, which serve a population of 314,810 people.

“Even when you enter the district hospital premises, you will find a house to your left and the other health centres have also not been spared.

“For us to embark on various development projects, we need adequate space. So, this is a big challenge,” he said.

Chitipa District Health Office (DHO) is facing a similar challenge, with all of its 15 health facilities having been encroached upon.

Chitipa District Medical Officer, Victor Matumbo, said that people are farming on hospital premises at all health facilities.

At Rumphi DHO, the encroachment has affected five health centres, namely Lura, Mphompha, Katowo, Kamphenda and the district hospital.

In an interview, Rumphi DHSS Arnold Jumbe said that people are building houses, churches and farming on hospital land.

Jumbe said they wish to engage with the Ministry of Lands and health centre management committees on the matter.

“It is about the understanding of the people surrounding these health facilities, so we are trying to meet with the health centre management committees to ensure that they help us liaise with the community to prevent encroachment.

“However, on our part, we need to ensure that the Ministry of Lands demarcates and places beacons at all health facilities in the district to secure our land,” he said.

The problem has also not spared Karonga District Hospital, where five health facilities have been encroached upon.

These include the district hospital, Kaporo and Chilumba rural hospitals and Mwenilondo and Nyungwe health centres.

Karonga DHSS David Sibale said that people have encroached on spaces where the hospitals and health facilities are supposed to expand.

Sibale said th