Laboratory equipment worth millions of Kwacha has gone missing in unexplained circumstances from Kabwe’s newly opened Ngungu Mini Hospital.
The state of the art equipment donated by an international non-governmental organisation last year, which include a microscope, a calorimeter and an incubator, valued at over K45 million disappeared mysteriously about two weeks ago
Patriotic Front (PF) Ngungu ward councillor Saidi Chibwana confirmed the development today.
“Yes I can confirm the disappearance of very expensive laboratory equipment from Ngungu Mini Hospital,” Mr Chibwana said.
And when contacted for comment, Central Province Director of Health Dr Dickson Suya could neither confirm nor deny the incident.
Dr Suya said he had not yet received a full report on the matter and referred all queries to the police whom, he said, were handling the matter.
But Mr Chibwana described the theft of the modern equipment as an inside job.
He ruled out the involvement of outsiders saying the laboratory was not broken into and there were workers on the spot on a 24-hour basis.
Mr Chibwana called on the police and the Ministry of Health to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring the culprits to book.
The visibly annoyed councillor said it was sad that some disgruntled workers could frustrate efforts to bring medical services closer to the people.
He said with the equipment, people of Ngungu, Chimanimani and other surrounding areas could be examined locally instead of travelling long distances to Kabwe General and Mine Hospitals.
Ngungu Mini Hospital was built on self-help basis by the community two years ago and was equipped by government, the Maureen Mwanawasa Community Initiative and other international non-governmental organisations.
Meanwhile, sources close to the hospital said police last week picked up a watchman and a security guard for questioning in connection with the missing equipment but were later released.
1 can the the selfish one(s)give a chance to the residents of Kabwe PLEASE!
This is a typical behaviour of most civil servants who aim at stealing from their working place. How can a microscope which has no legs disappear from the lab? Arrest those who use it and they will bring it back in no time.
Uku bomba mwibala kulya ifya mwibala
Arrest the people responsible are the one’s who have sold it to private clinics. Mwajaila kuba. Muzakaba na mankhanana yamunthu odwala anapeleka kukapimisa ngati ali na TB. Imwe mukuti nipamene apa ni FINTA milk mwati nakuti gugugugu mukamwa.
Mwanawasa na Chiluba balyonaula Kabwe. Most residents there are in survival mode.
I concur with No.2. Kulyafye mwi bala bakaamba!
#3&5 IMWE BABILI MULIPUMPU SANA!!!
This is not just sad but very disgusting too. It shows how people are engulfed in this insatiable or eptome of greed. Honestly how can a personal with morals steal what is meant to help not only other people but him and his family too. It is totally barbaric and inhuman. Notwithstandíng this, I think it is not difficult to bring the perpetrators to book. The authorities should arrest all those who were responsible and had authority over the equipment and ultimately the truth will come out.
Am very sure big bosses running private clinics are involved that,s why the case quite
you know the very same pple who steal are the ones who need medical attention, and if they don’t get it, they complain like *****s. if u can’t do it for yo selves, do it for yo kids, grandkids, siblings or yo parents!