At a time government is promoting safe motherhood, Manyamula Health Centre in Mzimba Solola Constituency is operating without electricity which forces some expectant mothers who deliver at night to use candles. The health facility also fails to stock some medicine as it does not have refrigerators due to lack of power, according to officials. Ironically, the clinic is situated at Manyamula Trading Centre where there is electricity. The health centre serves a population of over 55 000 since opening doors over 15 years ago. During a media tours organised by World Vision Malawi recently, senior health surveillance assistant at the hospital, Yofasi Chinyama, said patients are forced to contribute money to buy candles to light the materninty room during labour. “The major challenge is electricity. This is negatively affecting service delivery here. It is becoming difficult, particularly at the maternity wing,” he said. “We are supposed to stock vaccines for new born babies but that is not the case, here. We rely on Mzimba District Hospital to ferry the vaccine once the baby is born,” he said. Area Development Committee chairperson Godwin Ngulube said they have been raising the issue with the district healthy office several times but there is no progress. Mzimba District Health Office (DHO) spokesperson Ellings Nyirenda said plans are underway to install electricity at the Health Centre.