President Edgar Lungu is disheartened at the pace of constructing the 650 health posts across the country.
The President attributed the delay to some contractors who have been found wanting due to corrupt practices among other issues.
The President was speaking when he officiated at the Zambia Medical Association -ZMA- Annual Ball and Awards Gala in Lusaka Last night at which First Lady, Esther Lungu was awarded the ZMA president’s award for her contribution to the health sector .
And President Lungu said government has also established dialysis units at Livingstone, Kitwe, and Ndola Central Hospitals in addition to the one at the University Teaching Hospital -UTH-.
The President said the continued investment in the health sector has improved service delivery and resulted in the reduction of mortality rates.
President Lungu said government will next year deploy Doctors for super-specialisation in the fields of Cardiology, Nephrology and Hematology among others in order to sustain the achievements in the sector.
The President has since directed the Public Service Management Division to resolve all human resource impediments for Doctors.
He says government is injecting huge investments in the health sector with a view of making Zambia a health tourism hub in the Southern African region.
President Lungu says government has so far invested substantially towards bringing emergency services to international standards by buying advanced and basic life support ambulances.
Meanwhile, ZMA president, Aaron Mujajati commended government for the continued investment in the health sector.
Dr. Mujajati also announced that Zambia will in 2017 for the first time host the World medical Association Conference that will attract over 600 doctors across the globe.
He said the conference will be an opportunity for the country to showcase achievements in the health sector and its tourism potential too.
And speaking when she received the award, Mrs Lungu said the award has not only upgraded her profile but will also encourage her to do more.
Others that received the awards are Health Minister, Dr. Josepth Kasonde, Dr. Ziche Makukula, and Professor Lupando Mukange for ZMA life-time achievement.
While Dr. Aggrey Mweemba, Dr. Chipepo Kankasa and Professor Kasonde Bowa Received the ZMA Meritorious award.
Dr. John Musuku and Dr. Paston Mukubesa also received the ZMA presidents’ award.
And Health Minister Joseph Kasonde says the construction of the 650 health posts across the Country is still on course.
Dr. Kasonde notes that this is despite the project delaying for a period of 3 months.
He has told Qfm News that his Ministry however expects that the set deadline for the completion of the project will be met.
So, First Lady, Esther Lungu was awarded the ZMA president’s award for her contribution to the health sector at which President Lungu officiated. Let me get this straight, she has been first lady barely one year?. Why does this remind me of former Ugandan President late Idi Amin?
Cactus – You are so silly. If you are not following what Ester is doing just shut up.
@Observer,
LOL, the fact that as an observer, you have FAILED to observe and mention any single credible exemplary thing she did to surpass all time-served workers to deserve this ‘special ward’ so fast, but instead you have degenerated to profanity like a schoolboy, speaks volumes about you. Keep observing.
Dr. Kaseba deserved an award more than anybody’s wife in PF.
Even medical doctors are kissing PF’s asses, what has Ester has to do with UTH?
These Health posts were given to PF Cadres and those connected ask around Presido
Esther Lungu given the ZMA president’s award – what a load of SH.IT!! What for? ALL that Esther had to do is open the legs for Lungu to penetrate!
This when Innocent Zambians are losing jobs for being UPND sympathisers but this ZMA president wants influence by awarding Esther with such prestigious honour for doing nothing!!
@Chilyata, tabakukusha bwino mwaice. Cindika wiso na noko nga wende inshiku ishingi muno chalo!
This is really laughable…Lazy Lungu is complaining as if its Fossil Chikwanda and his ministry writing the cheques and the construction or assembly of these selfsame clinic post are being done by local contractors. He has no shame at all these clinics are being assembled by Indian Contractors being financed via an Indian Exim Bank loan…something does not add up about some contractors who have been found wanting.
Equally laughable is lazy Lungu stating that he wants to make Zambia Health tourist hub when he himself sneaks out for simple checks to RSA…how can you surely make Zambia that when you have no road map or benchmarks.
Surely How can you award Ester this ZMA president’s award for supposedly her contribution to the health sector…this is an insult to our doctors who are working under challenging conditions for pantry salaries only having to moonshine at private clinics to balance the books at home. Then you have this President’s wife being awarded for flying in ZAF planes and using taxpayers funds to hand out gifts to poor people in opposition strongholds…what a joke..any where nothing is surprising under Lazy Lungu’s govt.
They probably gave her the award as an enticement for Lungu to attend their event
Good work Mr President.
Victory is assured in 2016.
You are proving your critics wrong.
Madame Esther has done more for Zambia than any other First Lady…AND IN THE SHORTEST AND FUGACIOUS PERIOD OF UNDER A YEAR.
Despite global downturn in economies, plummeting copper price and mine closures…You boldly, steadfastly and determinedly persevere unrelented…and unabated! I feel proud to be a Zambian in the diaspora, under your stewardship.
Martin Luther King, Jr. once stated that “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”
I would have loved to hear from President Lungu the action taken by government at the slow pace on the construction of the 650 Health Centres throughout the country. Obvious reasons being corruption malpractices and what does he want us to do.
This is why the country is lacking behind much of the required development it deserves because of handling corruption issues with kids gloves. The President must be ashamed by himself and a disgrace to donors eyes.
To those wanting why just watching and nursing them. This clearly demonstrates ggovernment’s failure to use its machinery by shielding the baggers because are linked to fellow polticians.
TRULY, JUST HEALTH CENTRES ARE TAKING CENTURIES. THEY ARE NOT TEACHING, OR SPECIALIST HOSPITALS TO BE TAKING THIS LONG. SURELY, THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE IS SITTING HIS @SS TOO MUCH IN HIS CHAIR. REALLY, ZAMBIANS ARE NOT HIGH ACHIEVERS- THESE HEALTH CENTRES IF IT HAD BEEN IN BOTSWANA OR NAMIBIA COULD HAVE BEEN FINISHED A LONG TIME AGO. I CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MINISTER OF HEALTH IS DOING IF HE CAN’T ACHIEVE THIS LITTLE TASK. GUYS, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO ACHIEVE IN ZAMBIA IF THIS LITTLE TASK CAN’T BE ACHIEVED IN LESS THAN RECORD TIME?
Peter, the facilities you are talking about do not grow on trees – Botswana & Namibia have money & spend it more wisely than we do – your surprise is laughable, you seem to be coming out of a 30 or more years stupor!!
@ Fota Nkonde
Instead of making comment on 1diocy of current administration, you are picking on Peter!!!
Where you been for past 51 years?
Enjoying the fruits of incompetence or corruption?
‘…Professor Lupando Mukange…’. It’s Professor Lupando MUNKONGE. LT please improve, these are important people you know…