Placenta Pit Constructed at Pemba Health Centre as a result of Citizen Demands
The challenge: The discharge of medical waste at Pemba Health Centre in Salima district of Malawi was for a long time a significant community concern due to bad odor and ugly scenes of places where damping was taking place around the health facility. This is no longer the case since the construction of a placenta pit at Pemba Health Centre. Although Malawi had passed the Access to Information Act in 2019, most people including women, youth and persons with disabilities in the country were not aware of this law and how they could utilize it to address problems in the community.
Task: Following the training on access to information and open contracting under the Hewlett Foundation-funded project implemented by AFIC in partnership with CHRR in Malawi, community monitors in the Linthepe community led by Ms Edrina Kenamu approached their area Member of Parliament demanding an explanation why their health Centre did not have a placenta pit since it was constructed in 2018.
Action: Following this request, the member of Parliament initiated work and the placenta pit was built and completed for use in 2022. Community members were pleased and are happy that disposal of medical waste has greatly improved with no bad odour, no longer carry the litter and the environment looks clean. The construction of the placenta pit for the community is as important as the process through which is was achieved. This change is important because it impacts on the health status of the community as a whole by reducing the risk of unsafe disposal of pathological waste which may result in harmful microorganisms that can infect hospital patients, health workers and the general public as well as lead to drug-resistant microorganisms which spread from health facilities into the environment. In addition, proper disposal helps to maintain a clean and tidy environment around the health centre as opposed to litter everywhere. The process of using public information to demand for services from duty-bearers empowered local communities and demonstrated that their vigilance and demand for accountability helped them access better services.
The project trained participants on how to access and use public information. During the access to information training, participants were informed on how to turn concerns into information requests and use accessed information to advocate for better policies and programmes. Practical experiences were done by helping participants identify government-abandoned or poor-performing projects, identify information needed about these projects to understand the issues, the agency holding needed information and how to apply for it.
Result: With this knowledge, one of the trained participants gained confidence and used acquired knowledge to request for information regarding the construction of a placenta pit and waste management at Pemba Health Centre. The confidence of the citizens to engage the area Member of Parliament. The ability for the women in the community to identify the issue and follow it up until it was resolved. The community is aware of their rights to better service delivery and use of information to demand for their rights.
Lesson: We learn from this case that various problems citizens face in their communities could be resolved if they understand their right to information and how this is linked to these problems. We also learn that when citizens including women are equipped with knowledge, their confidence to engage duty bearers to get their problems resolved is boosted
