By BENEDICT TEMBO
The United States government has donated 58 point-of-care ultrasound devices and over 1,500 birthing kits for non-military and Defence Force health care facilities.
Delivering the donation yesterday at Kenneth David Kaunda Barracks (formerly Mikango Barracks) in Chongwe District, US Ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gonzales, commended the Ministry of Defence for prioritising health care not only in the military but throughout the country and stated that the equipment would help front-line health providers promote healthy deliveries and prevent maternal mortality.
According to the Zambia Army media, Mr Gonzales also commended the girls under the DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe) project for creating the maternity care kits, popularly known as Mama Packs, to limit their HIV exposure in women and young mothers.
DREAMS is a partnership aimed at reducing rates of HIV among adolescent girls and young women in the highest HIV burden countries.
“In Zambia, nearly 40 infants die from preventable complications for every 1,000 births.” As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The goal of this endeavour is to deliver that ounce of prevention,” Ambassador Gonzalez said.
He said with ultrasound machines, midwives and doctors can now provide life-saving assessments for mothers and detect problems before they become emergencies.
And Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary Norman Chipakupaku commended the US Embassy for the donation and urged healthcare professionals to put the devices to good use and keep them safe, expressing hope that they will help prevent maternal and infant deaths.
Receiving the equipment, 64 Armoured Regiment Commander Lieutenant Colonel Billy Munshya said that the donations will go a long way in curbing the challenges that the clinic had previously faced, as well as lessening the burden on the staff and improving the facility’s efficiency.
Donations that do not even add value to Zambias economy. The other day USA donated condomns. What a shem!!!
Dont use those condoms! In the 90s it was well known in Zimbabwe that US condoms aided the proliferation of AIDS. Most people who used the US condoms developed AIDS. Up to today we dont know why Southern Africa has a higher proportion of AIDS cases than the rest of the world. And Zambian scientists are sleeping
Never trust a man who twerks with his hands.
This post is about f00Iish bally
The US will never build infrastructure apart from condomns
some must take off their blinkers and smell the roses
instaed of others back sides
I think there is a very big shift in the US relations to Zambia of late. For first time, the railway track from Lobito may take shape: an American project.
Thanks to Russian and Chinese traceable past which US wants to actively counter.
Its not for the first time. This railway was there before. It stretched from Ndola through Sakania to Mufulira then Kolwezi to Luena and Lobito. However Savimbi destroyed it during the war. Enock Kavindele has suggested a separate line altogether going through Solwezi to Chingola.
Kulenga²
FIRST TIME AMERICANS ARE SHAPING SUCH A HUGE TRANSPORT PROJECT IN ZAMBIA. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THE ORIENT TO DO THIS; IT HAS NEVER BEEN FOR THE WEST TO VENTURE IN SUCH PROGRAMMES.
“For first time, the railway track from Lobito may take shape: an American project.”
Russia offers zero as for chinese sure they invest but does anyone think of the future cost ?
Thanks, @Tikki.
Militarily, the USSR (Russia) has been caring for Zambia’s needs, training and equipment (eg. MiG-21 in Lusaka and Mumbwa). Apart from the UN peacekeeping missions, America recently is engraving footprints in training and hardware than previously. I hope I have driven home my point.