Government has appealed to United States President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) to seriously consider putting up a zonal health centre at Kabwe’s Mukobeko Maximum Correctional Centre for the
benefits of the inmates and other people.
Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo said during the official opening of Chipata Central Correctional clinic and the 2016 World Aids Day commemoration in Chipata yesterday that Mukobeko Maximum
Correctional centre had almost 4,000 inmates adding that putting up a health facility would serve a lot of people.
“With a risk sounding like perpetual beggars, I would like to appeal to PEPFRA to seriously consider putting a similar health facility at Mukobeko in Kabwe.The total number of inmates over there is around
4,000 and such a facility would serve a lot of people,” The minister said.
He applauded PEPFAR for fulfilling the promise it made in 2012 during the World Aids day that would be construct a K 2 million health facility at Chipata Central Correctional Centre.Mr Kampyongo said the opening was barely two weeks when a similar clinic funded by PEPFRA was also done in Livingstone.
He said the gesture by PEPFAR has come at the right time when the service has taken the correctional path to another level.The minister said the health for inmates was a priority which should be boasted towards modern health infrastructure and equipment.
He paid gratitude to the Zambia Correctional Service and other cooperating partners for the support.
Mr Kampyongo also said he was aware of the shortage of health facilities with the service currently relying on 24 facilities dotted in some selected correctional facilities.
He assured that Government would ensure that it moves in to recruit more uniformed health personnel.
Mr Kampyongo said the Government had seriously stepped in to look the affairs of both correctional officers and inmates adding that the ongoing construction of new facilities and officer’s houses were a
testimony.
Speaking earlier, Zambia Correctional Service Commissioner General Percy Chato said the pledge made by the PEPFAR in 2012 symbolised that stakeholders in correctional settings were part of a bigger picture.
Mr Chato said the commissioning of the Chipata Correctional Centre mini-hospital symbolises that through the support by the PEPFAR that the Zambia Correctional Service was hands up for HIV prevention.
He said currently, the 75 health personnel administering health services to an ever-increasing number of inmates which hovers around 20,000 were not enough.And Eastern Province Medical Officer Dr Abel Kabalo said the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has dropped in the province from 10.3 percent to 9.3
percent.
The function was attended by Eastern Province Minister Makebi Zulu,Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Dr Chileshe Mulenga and several others.
Ends
YOU *****S NEED TO STOP BEING BEGGARS AND LEARN TO USE AND MANAGE YOUR RESOURCES WISELY..YOU PIGS WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE EURO BOND DOLLAR?? HOW MUCH DOES A HEALTH CENTER COST TO BUILD?? EVERY DAY BEGGING FOR YOUR STUPID STOMACHS AND CORRUPTION IN PF. YOU ARE THE CHAPS EMBARRASSING ZAMBIANS ABROAD. I WISH SOMETHING COULD JUST KILL ALL OF YOU CORRUPT CHAPS WITH YOUR PRESIDENT LUNGU SO THAT WE START AFRESH WITH CLEAN HANDS. I HATE CORRUPTION KUZWA A MUMATAKO..
a government appealing for a clinic……pf get serious.
Ukulomba all the time. Please my fellow country men let us get serious with issues that are affecting us. “ati PEPFAR to seriously consider” when ourselves are not serious. We are not concerned and we expect Americans to be concerned and serious on behalf. I hope trump stops this trend. It is this trend making us dependent on foreign help.
I remember ukulomba even ku primary at break time. This trend is in blood now so much that the minister has no shame at all.
…..and when they start commenting about governance in this country you are the first to cry SOVEREIGNITY !!
…such a facility would serve a lot of people…You first need serve people who are not incarcerated than worry about people that have committed crime/s.
Misplaced priorities
Thanks
BB2014
WHY ARE WE STILL BEGGING AFTER 51 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE? PRISONS ESPECIALLY MUKOBEKO GROW HUGE FIELDS OF MAIZE AND THE MONEY GOES TO BUYING FANCY PICKUPS. WHY DO THEY NOT CHANNEL SOME OF THAT MONEY TO UPDATING THE CURRENT HEALTH CLINIC THEY HAVE THERE ALREADY? THIS GIVE ME SYNDROME FROM THE WESTERN WORLD MUST STOP. AFTER ALL THE MONEY DONATED TO ZAMBIA IS NOT REACHING THE INTENDED PROJECTS BUT ENDING UP IN PEOPLE S POCKETS TO BUILD LAVISH MANSIONS AND GUEST HOUSES.
Sovereign my @$$!!