Phase One renovation works at Solwezi General Hospital have gained momentum, with three inpatient wards now complete and handed over.
In an exclusive interview with the media in Solwezi today, Senior Medical Superintendent, Kitanda Sondashi, says three out of the six wards earmarked for renovation have been fully completed and are already in use.
Dr Kitanda Sondashi notes that the development has greatly improved the hospital environment and enhanced service delivery.
He has since thanked the government for the ongoing renovation works at the health facility.
“These renovation works commenced in January 2024, and these are massive works. We are talking about the renovation of our six wards and the support departments that include the Intensive Care Unit, Emergency and Theater,” he said.
He said three wards including the children’s ward, Zambezi and Kabompo which he said was currently being used as a high cost ward after the actual one developed cracks.
Dr Sondashi has also provided updates on the remaining works.
“What remains to be done is the laundry department and mortuary. Progress has been made in terms of renovation works and we just want to implore the two contractors Midil Construction Limited Builders Village to speed up the works so that the entire project is completed,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said the highest referral public hospital in North-Western Province has also received state-of-the-art digital medical equipment aimed at improving diagnosis and treatment of patients.
“The Radiology department has received a state-of-the-art digital X-ray machine which is already mounted. We have also received a CT Scan machine, one of its kind for the first time that we are seeing such a piece of equipment in our province. The Ministry of Health has scored,” he added.
He said the Hospital is yet to receive the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Machine.
And Solwezi General Hospital Senior Radiographer, Carol Nonde, added that the equipment has played a critical role in improving service delivery and reducing referral cases to the University Teaching.
“People used to suffer and cover long distances to Lusaka in search of health services that we could not offer previously due to lack of modern medical equipment’s but we are now privileged to have all this equipment able to help us diagnose and treat patients within our Province and we commend government for that, “she said.
Dr Sondashi has also appealed to the government to consider expanding the hospital infrastructure in order to match the demands of the growing population in the Province.
“Our patient load has increased tremendously and so we are appealing to the government to consider expanding this hospital to enable us to contain the number of patients that are coming to our facility. We are really facing serious challenges of space at this hospital, “he said.
