Thursday, March 28, 2024

New Level 1 Hospitals in Lusaka have cut referral cases to UTH and Levy Hospital-President Lungu

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President Lungu on arrival at Chilenje Level 1 Hospita
President Lungu on arrival at Chilenje Level 1 Hospita

President Edgar Lungu says the opening of the upgraded Chilenje and Matero Level 1 Hospitals has drastically reduced referrals to UTH and Levy Mwanawasa labour wards from 28 percent in December 2016 to 14 percent as at January 2017.

President Lungu said Chilenje Hospital has seen a reduction of referrals for all cases from 226 cases in the first quarter of 2016 to 165 in the first quarter 1 of 2017.

He said a further decrease is expected as Kanyama and Chawama Level 1 Hospitals are also fully operational.

President Lungu was speaking when he commissioned Chilenje Level 1 Hospital.

Chilenje and Matero Level 1 Hospitals have been constructed with the help of the Japanese government.

He said the project is a comprehensive self-contained health facility which will provide quality services for many years to come.

The Head of State said Government is determined to re-engineer the health referral system within Lusaka district.

“He said until August 2015, Lusaka district did not have a level 1 Hospital resulting in patients being referred from health centres directly to the then University Teaching Hospital, and to levy Mwanawasa General Hospital. This scenario severely distorted the referral system and congested higher level hospitals. We are now addressing this challenge by upgrading selected urban health centres in Lusaka district to level 1 hospitals,” President Lungu said.

“Today, it is a joyous occasion to be here with you all as I commission the up-graded Chilenje Urban Health centre into a hospital. What we are witnessing here in Chilenje is momentous as you know Zambia’s history struggle for independence and subsequent development is deeply rooted in this township,” President Lungu said.

He added, “it is therefore befitting that Chilenje is yet again a Launchpad for development founded on my firm belief that the most valuable asset that our country possesses is her people who can only attain their full potential, if they are healthy and productive. This is the key driver for our economic emancipation and growth.”

He said Chilenje clinic has for a long time been providing health care to about 77,000 residents but that now more than 350,000 residents of the greater part of Lusaka are expected to receive health care services from the upgraded facility.

“This project would not have been realised without cooperation from the government of the republic of Japan which rendered support under phase 1 at a total cost of k200 million for both Chilenje and Matero hospitals.”

He said phase 1 included construction of the General Outpatient Department, Emergency and Security wings, Maternity ward for both women and new born babies and Medical Imaging Department with X-ray and ultrasound including related facilities of a pump room, cylinder and generator room, transformer, elevated water tank and water reservoir and administration block with offices and conference room.

President Lungu said the upgrading of health infrastructure is only a part of our transformational approach to promoting health in the city.

“The “Healthy City” concept is grounded in our vision that a Zambian city must continually recreate and improve its physical and social environments. This approach recognises determinants of health and the need to work in collaboration with the public, private, voluntary, civic and community based organisations,” he said.

President Lungu said it is therefore imperative that technocrats responsible for planning and implementing the national transformational agenda ensure that the health infrastructure being constructed is in tandem with requisite developments such as health literacy, water and sanitation, appropriate housing, nutrition and the environment.

“Our vision to upgrade health facilities is not aimed at filling them up with sick people, but to make them as a springboard for wellness in respective communities,” he said.

President Lungu unveils a plaque to officially open the Chilenje Level 1 Hospital
President Lungu unveils a plaque to officially open the Chilenje Level 1 Hospital
President Lungu inspecting some of the equipment at Chilenje Level 1 Hospita
President Lungu inspecting some of the equipment at Chilenje Level 1 Hospita
President Lungu holds a child at Chilenje Level 1 Hospital
President Lungu holds a child at Chilenje Level 1 Hospital
President Lungu gestures to the people on arrival at Chilenje Level 1 Clinic
President Lungu gestures to the people on arrival at Chilenje Level 1 Clinic

24 COMMENTS

    • I hope you have noticed that its a grant from Japan. What issues of real importance do we really finance ourselves ? Politicians only make political mileage on these things … thats all. Their plan is only about making parking at UTH.

    • It means you are too lazy and too dull to build four walls…you would rather increase salaries for councillors. It means you lack priorities!!

    • Does this mean that the president will now not be flown to Morningsde hospital but to Chilenje level 1? Or is level one chilenje for us not them? Akakamuntu nikamambala mwe! No wonder he stole from a client. Old habits die hard.

    • This was brought about by Dr Kasonde and Dr Chikusu. Their vision to change and improve the health care for all Zambians will never be realised because of this corrupt government. This was one of the projects that had approval, contracts done etc before Sata died. The state of the ministry of health has become deplorable. Where has all the money they left at the ministry gone? At UTH cancer patient’s are dying due to expired chemotherapy drugs. The former ministers always inspected suppliers and manufacturers of drugs etc.

    • @ One Zambia my issue is giving credit were it is truly due ….I was responding to the “great work Mr. President….” when what we can do from our own tax payers Money is to build an ultra modern car park at UTH and not such projects which I totally agree are great work…. but just not sure if the accolades should go to Lungu

    • Mr Lungu, you might want to invest in a 1st level prison too because you might find yourself in the mosquito infested holding cell at Lilayi after your term of office.

    • I agree Bobby! Lungu is taking credit for some else’s hard work. When the former ministers of health were working hard to start and implement plans to improve the health sector Lungu was in a bar getting drunk. Lubinda who is on the background was chasing girls and pocketing public money.

    • Agree with Mwense. Level 1 prison will be a good investment so that you are comfortable because you will be there for a while after you leave office. A wrong is a wrong. Justice must be served but not to innocent people like HH.

  1. Hospitals without medicine. You can receive grants to build all sorts but as we have learned in the past if you lack the capacity to manage them as is evident under illegal government then you are as good as dead.

  2. Wonders just never cease in this country! I heard the area MP Lubinda bragging saying this is another of the projects under PF to “sonta epowabomba”.Really? Was it necessary to politick for a such a project when we all know that the project was facilitated by a grant from the Japanese Government. The funds that were used to upgrade the Chilenje and Matero hospitals did not even come from the Zambian coffers. Why should everything be about politics? It is not only Given Lubinda or PF who will pay back that loan. It is all the tax payers.

    • These are works done under PF – what is the problem? The granted was obtained under the government of the day.

  3. It should be more worrying that my penis is larger in girth and size than lungus skinny arm. Lungu might need these hospitals soon

  4. Even simple clinics its either donor assistance or an Exim Bank loan…you wonder what this govt’s priorities are apart from buying Hammer mills and increasing salaries…if this lazy thing wants touring why does he not go to UTH where there is no water.

  5. HH says ba PF ni ba Chipantepante.
    I wish they could continue kicking the hell out of you until you are admitted into level 0 Hospital.

  6. I HAPPENED TO PASS THROUGH THE AREA YESTERDAY AND I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THE AREA LITTERED WITH PF CHITENGE MATERIALS AMIDST SHOUTS OF SONTA. THIS PROJECT DID NOT START NOW UNDER HIS EXCELLENCE ECL, NEITHER IS IT FUNDED BY PF GOVT, NOR WAS IT THEIR INITIATIVE. LETS LEARN TO THANK THE RIGHT PEOPLE WHOSE TAX PAYERS ARE SACRIFICING FOR US. ACKNOWLEDGE THEM IN FULL & STOP POLITICIZING EVERYTHING. MY SUGGESTIONS IS THAT ONCE ELECTIONS ARE OVER, CARDERS SHOULD HAVE NO ROLE TO PLAY BECAUSE NOW WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH IS THE PRESIDENT OF ALL ZAMBIANS & NOT A PF PRESIDENT. LET CIVIL SERVANTS HANDLE ALL SUCH ISSUES WITHOUT INVOLVEMENT OF CARDERS.

  7. ON THE OTHER HAND, HON. LUBINDA, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR INTEGRITY? ARE YOU SURE THAT PROJECT IS SONTA RE-LOADED? KINDLY TELL US HOW MUCH YOU PUMPED IN SINCE YOU ARE OUR MP

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