Health Ministry to Utilize Birth Certificates and National ID Cards to Provide Health Services

Karonga, Malawi - The Deputy Minister of Health, Halima Daud, MP, has announced that the Ministry of Health will begin using birth certificates and National Identity Cards in the administration of health services to citizens, particularly in border districts, writes Abraham Bisayi.

This move aims to reduce the treatment of non-citizens.

During the launch of the Birth Certificate Distribution Project in Karonga, led by the National Registration Bureau (NRB) and the Ministry of Homeland Security, Daud emphasized the importance of registering births.

She stated that it will help to provide age proof for drug prescriptions and facilitate planning and budgeting for the procurement of vaccines and drugs.

Daud also noted that the Ministry of Health spends significant resources treating non-citizens in border districts, which could be avoided by using these documents.

She said, "Our role now will be supporting the NRB to continuously register all the newly born babies, in order not to leave any child behind."

The project has already registered children under the age of 16 in Karonga, Lilongwe rural east, and Mwanza districts.

Daud urged parents and guardians to ensure that their children are registered at birth, as it will help to improve their access to health services in the future.

The use of birth certificates and National Identity Cards in health services administration is expected to enhance the efficiency of the health system and prevent the unnecessary use of resources in treating non-citizens.

This initiative aligns with the government's goals of providing better health services to all citizens, regardless of their nationality.