Health Minister Dr Joseph Kasonde has disclosed that government intends to build 650 health posts countrywide beginning next year.
Meanwhile, Dr Kasonde is happy that Chieftainess Chungu of abena Mukulu tribe in Luwingu district has given government a piece of land for the construction of a general hospital in the area.
Dr Kasonde who inspected part of the 400 hectares of land in senior chieftainess Chungu’s area about 17 kilo meters west of Luwingu district said the land reserved is enough to construct the general hospital and staff houses.
And Briefing Heads of Government Departments at the office of the district commissioner yesterday, Dr Kasonde said government plans to construct 650 health posts in 2014.
Dr Kasonde said the piece of land released by senior chieftainess Chungu is enough to construct a modern general hospital and staff houses.
He said the construction of the health facility will commence in 2014 adding that he was in the district for an on the spot check of the piece land where the general hospital would be constructed.
Dr Kasonde paid tribute to senior chieftainess Chungu and his subject for releasing 400 hectares of land for the hospital project.
He said the construction of the health posts would greatly assist the rural populace in accessing medical care as distances to the facilities would be reduced.
Dr Kasonde said the PF government is in a hurry to upgrade and modernise all the district hospitals such as luwingu and others to reduce the number of referral cases to the general hospitals and the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka.
He said the general hospital to be constructed in luwingu will cater for five districts namely Kawambwa, Mwense, Mporokoso, Chilubi and Luwingu.
“I am very pleased to with the land earmarked for the construction of a general hospital to be situated right here in Luwingu district,” said the Minister.
He said the construction bid for the 650 health posts have already been advertised and that works will start as soon as funds are released by the Indian government from whom a loan has been sourced.
Dr Kasonde said most of the people in rural areas where finding it difficult to access proper medical care because health facilities were few and far apart.
The construction of the health posts were in line with government’s vision of providing equitable access to quality health services to all citizens of Zambia as close to the family as possible.
Meanwhile, Dr Kasonde praised the nurses in the Northern Province who did not participate in an illegal strike which would have halted operations.
He also commended those who participated but have sent an apology for their wrong doing saying it is good to forgive and forget but warned that in future the government would not tolerate such behaviour.
And Luwingu district commissioner Mambwe Katontoka thanked the government for the gesture of good will saying the construction of the district hospital would help alleviate some health challenges faced by the local people.
She said people in the district have welcomed the construction of the general hospital because it will also create employment as well as adding value to the district.
And Lupososhi Member of Parliament Bwalya Chungu said he was happy that the district administration team had placed construction of the general hospital high on the agenda in his constituency and appealed to his electorate to rally behind the project.
ZANIS
That’s old and boring news. Some women regard foreskins as dirty so please take male circumcision to rural areas as you build clinics there. By the way, has Chikwanda signed the loan for the clinics?
Only Zambians with memory of a chicken can believe your lies and fake promises. You fired all the experienced nurses and who the hell is gona man those health centres.
This is just a lot of hot air. PF madness has really advanced to another level.
So far PF have just achieved causing more misery to the poor up down the country.
Dr Kasonde you need to be fired period.
Who will work there when you are busy firing nurses…. it is true CNNP even his subjects have followed suit….
Govt to introduce national airline by november
Govt to introduce toll gates by november
Govt introdue national service in january
Govt to redesign road network in lsk
Govt to build 2000 schools before 2016
Govt to pave zambia 2000km before 2016
This government is such a pain. We have been hearing about the 650 health posts since 2012. Who will manage them when you are firing nurses? 50 years after independence and we think health posts are development- what a shame? You guys are too old to manage affairs in this generation. PF kuya bebele. Thank you for the independence struggle but you are now irrelevant in the day to day affairs of this nation. Sata, Munkombwe, Chikwanda, Katema, Kapeya, Scott and the others, it is time to go and be good great grand parents.
it’s just a gimmick to get another collosal loan which the gluttons will share amongst themselves,wait and see
Seriously? This government has more reruns of lies and fake promises than a K2 nganga! Do they still honestly think we are still in 2011 electoral lies mode? We heard these lies before! At least try and be creative and come up with some new ones! If you had said you are going to employ 650 nurses next year, we might at least TRY to believe you.
Where are you going to get the number of professionals to run these centers?
Today, I bought the Post, which i never do, coz one of the headlines stated that the IMF is worried that Zambia is headed for another Debt Trap. They said that since Fitch has downgraded our Credit rating to B minus, we will be expected to pay more interest for the loans we are surely still planning on getting. I then eagerly flipped to the Editorial to see whether Mmembe had come back to his senses and maybe would express concern about this. Lo and behold, the editorial was about ‘Gossip’. In UNIP days, we had problems and Chikwanda decided to borrow but only worsened the problem. A million years later, we are in problems and Chikwanda has decided to borrow again. Osmore, Saulosi, Zambiano and the rest of you, how will the same approach sort out the problems?
Prying on people’s ignorance we all know its the Indians who will constructing these posts via a developmental loan.
you fools, its like me saying i cant pass one class(UTH) and now i want to take 20 more other classes which might be equally difficult. in chinese there is a wise saying…”???????????????“. basically it means dont sell our future in order to enjoy todays gains, thats what this government is doing. yupping numbers, getting the money and forgetting their promises. we are in trouble.
ba times, your website cannot accept chinese charactors? anywaz. ‘bu yao yingwei jingtian de shouyi mai wo men de wei lai..’ thats the chinese saying..
Building more health posts while firing nurses? Who is going to run those again? How do they intend these health posts to function?!! I have never seen such confusion
To be staffed by at least 1300 imaginary nurses, 650 imaginary EHT’s, … O please! Just steal the contracts and hand out the money to your Chinese and get your kick backs and shut the F up.