DRUGS AT RISK IN CMS

Frank Kauteka Tembo

Drugs at Mzuzu Central Medical Stores (CMS) are at risk of pilfering as security cameras in the warehouses stopped functioning in amidst August this year.

Voice of Kanyawazi visit at the CMS warehouses found that the region has many essential drugs including those of Family planning but without CCTV cameras that helps in monitoring the drugs.

The development has put some drugs at risk of theft by some Central Medical Store Staffs as no cameras can monitor them as they are working in the warehouses.

Northern Region Medical Stores Pharmacist In-Charge Innocent Mbowela confirmed the catastrophe in an interview with Voice of Kanyawazi.

“Our Central Medical Stores currently is in the process of improving all the warehouses from Blantyre, Lilongwe and here in the North.

“Right now medical stores has started identifying different constructors or suppliers who are improving the warehouses and the issue of security is one of them that is handled at headquarters level and the contractors have already come to have the facility and they have done their assessment and the CCTV cameras will be shortly in place and the issue of security will no longer be a problem,’ he said.

However, Mbowela said despite the CCTV cameras, the trust engaged the police and Group 4 Security (G4S) Company that works hand in hand in securing the drugs as well as the place.

“The people should have the expectation that the commodities which they want will be reaching them in good time, safe and in right quantities.

“And regarding the issues of our facility the management at the higher level is sorting out and has put in place various mechanisms so that our security is in good form.

“All security at this facility is outsourced; we [CMS] have got the Police and G4S Company that are providing security at the facility hence the issues of security is just fine,” he said.