The University Teaching Hospital (UTH) has sent a passionate appeal to both Government and corporate organisations to assist the institution with generators to cushion the constant power outages that have beset the country.
UTH Public Relations Manager Pauline Mbangweta who made the appeal said nurses are using candles to light the wards in the absence of electricity except for sensitive wards where generators are connected.
In an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Ms. Mbangweta identified the sensitive wards as Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the theatre, Neo-natal, the Malnutrition ward as well as the mortuary where electricity automatically switches on, if hydro-electricity by ZESCO abruptly goes off.
She named the general wards which are not connected to a generator and where the medical personnel use candles as paediatrics, maternity, the eye and cancer clinics.
‘’We are appealing for more generators because we do not have enough of generators. We only supply to sensitive wards in case ZESCO disappoints us this is when we use our few generators to supply electricity to sensitive wards while the rest of the general wards our health personnel use candles to light the wards,’’ Ms. Mbangweta narrated.
On Saturday, Zambia was plunged into total darkness due to a disturbance on ZESCO’s major system.
On Sunday, ZESCO Managing Director Rodney Sisala told Journalists at a media briefing that a major system distance occurred on the Zambian high voltage resulting in extensive loss of electricity in the entire country as well as the neighbouring Botswana and Zimbabwe.
UTH just need solar power.in the long run it will cut down their energy expenses even when ZESCO is fully functional!!GRZ..zero rate solar power equipment before innocent people die in our hospital.
We all now have boreholes to mitigate the shortcomings of the water utilities so the next logical step is solar power!!!
1# that fine but who will buy solar pannels that will help to pyrovide power to the entire UTH? The ministry of Health through the govt but I wonder whether this is posible for our govt that doesnt learn from any problems that our country faces. it was floods and now it is blackout.Priorities in this govt is buying expensive and n cars not providing essential needs to the nation. Sure blackout in the vital institution like hosp were power is most needed.shame upon the govt.always asking Donors
I shud think the concerned guys in MOH must be having sleepless nights due to the black outs and so on.
Twingilefye mufi solar.
Dear Gov plz look into that matter seriously.Lets not fully depend on hydroelectric power ang?I think we need no donor to help us do this.Zambia is rich enough.Its not about building a New UTH no.Its just renovating,bringing in new generators or get the solar thing.
Contingencies at Zambia’s largest hospital are needed. Why spend over K45 Million per month on money hungry brats at NCC while critical issues remain unattended to? As a government where are the priorities?
undertaker(4), do not forget it is the same people who advocated changing our constitution at whatever cost, who are now saying the money would have been better spent on more important issues such as UTH !!Can you see how difficult it is to rule a country??Imagine what Cabinet goes through when drawing up a list of priority development projects and how and who is to fund them ??
The Goverment does not care because the officials,go to South Africa for Medical treatment. It is the ZambiaN citizen who suck up to the non sense. They will continue to be misused ,abused, name it. It is unacceptable for Health personal to work under candle light.This is something that should be unheard of. Other wise Health care personal will continue to migrate. After all the Health care worker will choose to go where the system works.In silence the public will continue to suffer