Administrators at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences formerly College of Medicine have cited financial constraints as the main challenge affecting operations of the college after delinking from the University of Malawi.
Professor Mark Malewa, Acting vice chancellor for the university has told MIJ Online the institution is yet to receive the 2.3 billion Kwacha funds for the delinking exercise.
Malewa said the college had requested the stated funds only to be allocated 60 million Kwacha in the immediate budget, a development that is leading to hitches in its delinking exercise.
“There have been a lot of challenges I must admit. As you can imagine KUHeS is unique in that not only delinked from the Malawi University of Malawi, there is merging- wherever there are a few challenges. But the biggest challenge has been funding, the delinking comes with a cost.” said Professor Malewa.
This was disclosed at the opening ceremony of the 2021/2022 academic year at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, on February, 7th.
The Institution was also welcoming over 300 new students who have been selected to pursue their studies at the University.
Speaking after at the event Professor Malewa also disclosed that the college has formulated a Zero Harassment Tolerance policy which aims at ending any forms of harassment.
“We want this to be the most student-centered Institution of higher learning. And being student centered, its means considering the needs of the students, academic life but also social life. And we know that indeed in social life, harassment is one of the things that has marred the image of most high learning Institutions in Malawi.” he said.
In her remarks, Raissa Jussab Khan, one of the students who will be pursuing Physiotherapy for the next five years at the Institution, hailed the authorities for coming up with the policy.
Khan noted that with the policy in place she is assured of being protected from any forms of harassment hence staying focused on her studies.