Government says it is determined to close the health infrastructure gap by the year 2030. Minister of Health, Jonas Chanda, says this is aimed at improving service delivery to the Zambian people.

Dr Chanda said this is the reason government through corporate partners has been making deliberate steps to upgrading some clinics into first- level hospitals.

ZANIS reports that Dr. Chanda was speaking when he inspected the completed Chipata level-one hospital in Mandevu Consistency of Lusaka today.

“We will do our best to ensure this hospital is operationalized as soon as possible, because the Government has resolved to deliver on its promise of improving health in Zambia,” Dr Chanda stated.

Dr Chanda stressed that President Edgar Lungu is committed to taking quality health care services as close to the families as possible.

Dr Chanda disclosed that the Ministry requested to recruit 30,000 health workers and that so far 28,000 have been employed, adding that the Ministry has since requested the Ministry of Finance and Cabinet to recruit the remainder of 4,000.

Once the hospital is commissioned by President Lungu later this month, there will be a reduction in the number of cases referred to higher level hospitals from the health facility which has a catchment area of 489,000.

Other clinics in Lusaka District, which government has upgraded into level one hospitals include Chipata, Kanyama and Chawama.

The University of Zambia (UNZA) has completed the construction of the teaching and learning complex housing two lecture theatres with a cumulative sitting capacity of 700 students.

The Teaching and Learning Complex constructed at the UNZA main campus in the space between the Confucius Institute and Population Studies teaching building, is made possible with funds internally generated by UNZA through the partnership with Graduare Property Development Zambia Limited, the proprietors of East Park Mall.

The state-of-the-art project to be commissioned on 19th February, 2021, is comprised of two state-of-the-art lecture theatres with a sitting capacity of 350 each, two conference facilities with cumulative sitting capacity of 120 people, office spaces, computer laboratories, ablution blocks and kitchens.

The project will also provide ultra-modern office and ICT support equipment and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, UNZA Vice Chancellor Prof. Luke. E. Mumba has reaffirmed Management’s commitment to addressing infrastructure challenges.

The Vice Chancellor adds, that amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, UNZA is committed to expanding its infrastructure provision so as to safeguard and protect the lives of its staff and students through strict adherence to laid down guidelines such as social distancing and provision of hand washing facilities.

Biomedical Union of Zambia general secretary, Sitwala Inambao has said that said government under the new collective agreement has increased the maternity leave period from 3 months to 14 weeks and an extra two weeks for those that have twins.

Speaking during a sensitization meeting on the recently improved civil servants’ conditions of service organised by Public Service Management Division (PSMD) and union representatives attended by the team of heads of the government departments, Mr. Inambao added that paternity leave has also been increased from 5 days to 10 days inclusive of weekends which was only entitled to a civil servant every two years.

Mr. Inambao further said the government has also allocated two percent from the eight percent basic salary increment to health workers as an infectious health care allowance for this year’s collective agreement as they are seen to be directly involved in the positive cases and eight percent across the board for other civil servants.

“The agreement also includes two percent that was added to health care workers as a risk allowance due to Covid 19 situation,” Mr. Inambao said.

He encouraged all the heads of government departments to ensure they are abreast with the available existing law documents and help sensitise juniors.

Meanwhile, Kabompo District Commissioner, Patrick Kasoka has expressed displeasure at the increased level of indiscipline being exhibited in the Ministry of Education in the district.

Speaking at the same event, Mr. Kasoka said that he is not happy with the continued conduct of some teachers and head teachers in relation to government service delivery in the education sector.

“As ministry of education in Kabompo, I am not happy with the level of indiscipline being exhibited by some teachers and head teachers in our schools.

“Let us learn and ensure that we follow laid down grievance procedures even as we operate as government agencies”, Mr Kasoka said.

He said government is always concerned about the welfare of civil servants and that the eight percent salary increment was what the current resource envelope could allow.

“Government is so concerned with the civil servants that is why it always ensures to engage your union representative in trying to improve the conditions of service and that the recent eight percent was what the government resource envelope could allow”, Mr. Kasoka said.

And PMSD senior human resources management officer, industrial relations, Pamela Chalawila said government will ensure that all debt owed to the public service workers in form of allowances and others will be cleared as funds have already been allocated amounting to K500 million.

Ms. Chalawila said that all anomalies currently being experienced from Payroll Management and Establishment Control (PMEC) will also be sorted out as a group of officers is in the province to correct the situation.

“Government has already allocated about 500 million to pay off debt it owes public service workers before end of 2021.

“Also all those in salary scales which had not had their eight percent increment effected such as J ,will be corrected as a team of officers from PMEC are currently going round the province to help correct the situation,” Ms. Chalawila said.

Vice President Inonge Wina says there is need for the country’s education system to embrace digital libraries as channels for accessing education and information.

Mrs Wina said traditional libraries are not serving the purpose for which they were built due to technological advancements in society.

She noted that traditional libraries have not received physical infrastructure facelift in ages and face the challenge of stocking relevant up-to-date books.

“This has resulted in most libraries remaining behind in terms of relevance in schools and communities, especially libraries which are supposed to be the nearest source of information for people leaving in the communities,” said Mrs Wina

Mrs Wina pointed out that digital libraries present opportunities for access to great volumes of educational materials and information at the convenience of the learners.

The Vice President said this in a speech read on her behalf by Minister of Transport and Communication Mutotwe Kafwaya during the launch of the Digital Library Programme in Zambia in Lusaka.

Mrs Wina said Zambia must begin to benefit from the national Information and Communications Technology policy and interventions of delivering knowledge in a cost effective manner to users,

The Vice President has since directed the ministries of Transport and Communication, General Education and Higher Education to ensure adequate investment in ICT infrastructure in rural areas in order to enhance provision and access to digital libraries.

She noted that the digital library programme and e-learning should take centre stage in light of the Covid 19 pandemic that has disrupted the traditional delivery of education in the country.

She further directed the ministry of Transport and Communication to ensure that the Universal Access Fund under ZICTA is fully utilized to create a digital economy that works for all sectors.

Mrs Wina said government attaches great importance to the Digital Library Programme as demonstrated by the continued effort of installing more communication towers countrywide to facilitate communications and ignite socio-economic development.

“Let me …congratulate the team at Digital library Zambia for embarking on this innovative approach to sharing knowledge, recognizing that modern education and knowledge delivery needs to ride on platforms created by information and communications technologies across the country” said Mrs Wina.

And speaking at the same function, Minister of General Education Dennis Wanchinga who is also acting Higher Education Minister said digital libraries will enhance the quality of education in the country due to the enormous value being brought to the table.

And Chief Executive Officer of Digital Base Limited John Mulenga speaking from Poland through Zoom said the Digital Library programme will save government huge sums of money being spent on students at the two public universities.

Mr Mulenga said his firm is ready to partner with government and other stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of the digital library programme and e-learning solutions in the country.