Usually, the most affected are patients in enormous pain in need of urgent medical help for various degrees of bone fractures.

Lisungwi Community Hospital In-Charge, Dr. Albert Chafunya, says the X-ray film processor got damaged in early 2018 after developing a fault and has not been fixed since.

He says that as an alternative, they are referring patients to Neno District Health Office and some to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital to seek the services with the patients shouldering the costs.

"We do this so that there is no gap in terms of service delivery," said Chafunya.

Zodiak Online caught up with a mother with a 7-year-old child on the hilly road of Muonekela who was desperate on finding means to get her child with broken leg treated at the district’s major health facility.

"We have been referred to Neno DHO for X-ray. At Lisungwi community hospital they say the Ex-ray machine is broken. it's risky and far to reach,” she said.

The visibly confused mother appealed to government to repair the machine.

Meanwhile Lisungwe community Health center hospital in-charge Chafunya has sounded an SOS to government and well-wishers to intervene.