Minister of Health Joseph Kasonde has reiterated government’s commitment to managing the health sector in an efficient, effective and prudent manner in order to improve health service delivery.
Dr. Kasonde said government was aware of challenges such as shortage of human resource shortage in the health sector.
He said government was therefore working with collaborating partners to ensure that the human resource shortage in the ministry is addressed together with the implementation of the national training operational plan for 2013 to 2016.
Dr. Kasonde also said the 650 health posts that being constructed and the soon to be implemented national social health assurance scheme are all part of government’s efforts in guarantying universal health coverage.
He said this in a speech that was read on his behalf by Samfya District Administrative Officer Gift Hajongola during the delayed celebration nurses’ day yesterday in Lubwe in Samfya district.
At the same event, newly appointed Luapula Province Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation (ZUNO) Chairperson Trebby Chitabanta said nurses will take some time to reflect on their role in health care provision and also celebrate the founder of nursing, Florence Nightingale.
And Mr. Chitabanta explained that HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis (TB) and non-communicable diseases continue to take centre stage in mortality and morbidity rates among the people.
This year’s international nurses’ day commemoration which was dubbed “Nurses; a force for change: improving health systems resilience”.
650 health posts being constructed – what about all the other health posts…. here in rural areas we have many health posts but non of them have any medication whether you have malaria, or infection, chest problems all you get is a panadol!!! Fix up current health centres first, make sure they have medication to treat patients then start building new ones !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
650 health posts have been under construction for the past 5 years. Bwana minister, after 5 years your language should not be government is addressing but that of “government addressed”
SAUDI ARABIA WILL HELP US SORT THIS ONE.
@3, SAUDI ARABIA WILL NOT HELP ZAMBIA SORT OUT ANYTHING. I ALWAYS SAY ZAMBIANS IN DIASPORA ARE THE WORST IN. IF YOU THINK YOUR NEIGHBOUR COULD HELP YOU TO MAKE YOUR WIFE PREGNANT, YOU TERRIBLY HAVE YOUR GREY MATTER IN THE WRONG PLACE- MOST PROBABLY, IN YOUR BOTTOMS INSTEAD OF YOUR SKULL. SAUDI ARABIA IS SORTING OUT IT’S GLOBAL INFLUENCE PROBLEMS IN ADVANCE AND THE STARTING POINT OBVIOUSLY, IS PEACE-LOVING ZAMBIA. BESIDES, SAUDI ARABIA FEEDS TOO MUCH ON GOATS AND THE BEST PLACE TO BREED AND GROW THEM FOR MEET IS EMPTY-LAND-ZAMBIA. I AM SURE THEY HAVE GOT THAT LAND ALREADY. IN THIS WORLD THERE’S NOTHING FOR FREE MY FRIEND.
I DON’T THINK BA DR KASONDE IS THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THIS MINISTRY. EVERY INITIATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE IN HIS MINISTRY IS JUST BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT PF STANDS FOR. NOT BECAUSE BA KASONDE BALICITAPO FIMO FIMO, NO. IF YOU CONSIDER THESE HEALTH CENTRES- THE IMPLEMENTATION HAS BEEN ON A SNAIL’S PACE. I WOULDN’T CONSIDER THIS MAN BACK IN THE NEXT PF GOVERNMENT IF I WERE ECL. EG, THINGS HE COULD HAVE RECOMMENDED IN HIS MINISTRY IS DETACHING THE AMBULANCE SERVICE FROM HOSPITALS SO THAT THEY BECOME INDEPENDENT BY BUILDING STRATEGIC AMBULANCE POSTS IN TOWNS CONTROLLED BY A CENTRAL COMMAND CENTER OR CALL CENTER IN OTHER WORDS. THIS WOULD MAKE THEM RUN FAST AND EFFICIENTLY.