Government supports maternal, child healthcare

THE Government has said it will continue supporting all efforts aimed at promoting maternal and child healthcare because of its determination to meet millennium development goal (MDG) number four, Livingstone District Commissioner Francis Chika has said.

Mr Chika said the Government had not just put up the required infrastructure in the health sector but it had made sure that midwives were trained to take care of mothers during delivery so that they could give birth to healthy children.

He said this in Livingstone yesterday during the launch of this year’s Child Health Week, which starts from Monday to Friday next week.

“The Zambian Government has put up clinics, hospitals and even provided mobile hospitals which are fully equipped to take care of any situation that can be handled by a general hospital.

“All this has been done to ensure that healthcare is brought at the door steps of all Zambians,” he said.

Mr Chika said it was a pity that despite the Government’s efforts in improving the living standards of Zambians, some people were bent on criticising everything.

He said President Rupiah Banda deserved much more than just a pat on his back for his visionary approach to dealing with national issues.

“I have seen a lot of correspondence pertaining to clinics such as Simoonga, Dambwa North, Highlands and a few others here in Livingstone.

“I wish to give you assurance that what the Government is doing is far from campaigning,” he said.

Mr Chika expressed disappointment at the failure by several Livingstone heads of Government departments to participate in the launch of this year’s Child Health Week.

At the same function, Livingstone District medical officer Cliff Hara urged parents and guardians to take their children to various health centres during the Child Health Week for medical attention.

[Times of Zambia]