Construction of the K11.5 billion Lumwana general hospital in Solwezi district has reached an advanced stage.
The hospital, which is situated in Manyama area, will have a female, male and children wards, which will each have a capacity of 32 beds.
It will also have a mortuary, an operating theatre, a maternity wing, an Out Patient Department and 14 staff houses.
Once completed, the hospital will help decongest Solwezi general hospital.
A check at the site by Solwezi District Commissioner Frobisher Fulayi revealed that almost 90 percent of the works have already been done.
Jizan Construction Company site manager Wan He however complained to the District Commissioner that theft of building materials and vandalism by the local people has hampered the completion of the works.
Mr. Wan said the other factor that delayed the completion of the hospital was the distance where building sand and stones were sourced from.
He however, expressed hope that the project will be completed and handed over to government by July this year.
Speaking after touring the site, Mr. Fulayi expressed happiness at the quality of work and the rate at which the works were progressing.
Mr. Fulayi was however, disappointed with the behavior of the local people, who he said were frustrating government efforts by stealing building materials for the project which is meant to benefit them.
The District Commissioner refuted reports by some sections of society that Lumwana general hospital was being funded by the mine.
He said the project was fully funded by government.
ZANIS
