Southern Province Minister Edify, Hamukale, has advised the Ministry of Health to urgently work towards building more infrastructures at Choma General Hospital where some of the facilities have been condemned and recommended for demolishing.
Dr Hamukale says the ministry should consider the construction of modern facilities at the hospital as a matter of urgency to avoid disruption of vital health services to members of the public.
The minister was speaking at Choma General Hospital today after management informed him that the Ministry of Works and Supply has condemned structures at the old wing because they are not fit for human habitation.
Hospital Medical Superintendent, Abel Shawa, said the old wing, which is accommodating the female and children’s ward as well as the laboratory and theatre, has been recommended for immediate closure because it is not fit for human habitation.
Dr Shawa said if the old wing is closed as per recommendation, it would mean shutting down the female and children’s wards.
But Dr Hamukale said the provision of modern infrastructure and specialised services befitting the hospital which is now serving a huge population in the provincial capital must be prioritized by the ministry of health.
He said he will engage the Minister of Health, Chitalu Chilufya, to find how best to resolve the infrastructural challenges at the institution.
Earlier, Dr Shawa complained about the poor funding of K112, 000 per month which was rendering the provision of vital services at the hospital difficult.
He told Dr Hamukale that the institution is supposed to receive a monthly funding of K400,000 as opposed to the current K112,000.
Proof that govt is broke. Funding at 25 % meaning treatment of patients is at 25%.
LUNGU AND HIS PF GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE FOR GRANTED. PROVISION OF GOOD HEALTH FACILITIES IN A BID TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE CITIZENS IS NOT A PRIORITY BY LUNGU’S GOVERNMENT. ZAMBIANS SHOULD BE READY FOR ANOTHER FIVE WASTTED YEARS.