Mzuzu-based health rights organisation Kuwala Health Media (Kuhem) has rolled out a cervical cancer clinic project pegged at K9 million.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation, Solomon Chomba, said in an interview that the initiative is in an effort to fight the disease which is claiming lives of thousands of women in the country.

He said the fight against the disease has been jeopardised by long distances and unavailability of proper equipment in government hospitals.

For instance, Mzuzu Central Hospital and Mapale Health Centre are usually in perpetual shortage of vinegar and cryogas which are used for screening of the cervix and treatment of the disease when in early stages respectively.

“We want to minimise the challenges that our women face when they go to the public health facilities for screening of the cervix and other related services. Consultations are underway with the Ministry of Health and the Medical Council of Malawi regarding operations and infrastructural design,” Chomba disclosed.

He said when inaugurated, the clinic will not be restricted to cervical cancer services alone, arguing since health needs among Malawians are numerous.

“We would like to bring something which is far from Malawians close to them, need I say that through the clinic, it will be easy for our partners within and beyond to get in touch in order to save our women,” Chomba said.

Situated at Luwinga Township, the clinic is expected to open its doors by March 31, this year.

Last year, Chomba was on record calling for political will in the fight against cervical cancer which according to a 2013 research kills 3,000 women in Malawi every year.

Meanwhile, Kuhem has opened a charity shop whose proceeds will channelled towards the same cause and has since called on well-wishers to come in.