University Teaching Hospital (UTH) management says it would not hesitate to take punitive measures on any of its nurses that mistreat patients at the the country’s largest hospital.

Making the warning in an interview with ZANIS, today, UTH spokesperson Pauline Mbangweta said any of its nursing staff member risk being dealt with once found wanting.

Ms Mbangweta also advised the general public not to have bad attitudes towards the nurses whenever they take sick relatives for medical attention at the hospital as they equally risk being dealt with.

She said that society and nurses need to have a good attitude towards one another for proper health services to be provided.

She said that some members of the community some times do have bad attitudes when they take their patients at UTH adding that this should not be the case.

Ms Mbangweta also urged nurses at the institute to always listen to whatever the general public community and patients want when they go there at UTH.

The UTH Public Relations Manager added that it was wrong for nurses to have bad attitude towards members of the community when they take their patients at UTH.

She said it was important that patients were always well looked after and cared for by nurses.

Mrs. Mbangweta however expressed happiness that the hospital has not recorded any reports of nurses mistreating patients.

She said the hospital management has put in place measures aimed at changing the bad attitude of some of its nursing staff towards patients.

To this effect, the hospital has put posters at the hospital that indicate what sort of disciplinary actions is taken on offenders and would be offenders.

Ms Mbangweta added that the hospital has been having workshops on how nurses should attend to members of the community and patients in good manner.

She pointed that UTH has in the past not been hesitating to deal with nurses that mistreat patients or members of the community when such reports are received.

She noted that with such measures the hospital has put in place were meant to deter would be offenders.

Ms. Mbangweta added that once such nurses are reported disciplinary action or dismissal is taken immediately.

ZANIS/AJN/ENDS/MM

Kalulushi District Commissioner Joshua Mutisa says Tuberculosis (TB) notification of  in the district stands at 316 in 2008, out of which 113 are sputum positive as compared to 369 cases in 2007 and 127 sputum positive cases.

Mr Mutisa said there has been a steady decline in the number of TB cases, but stated that the numbers were still quite high.

Mr Mutisa said that the disease had continued to be a major public health problem not only in Zambia, but globally and was among the leading causes of illness and deaths in the community.

He said in the year 2006 Zambia notified 52,179 patients of all forms of TB, with the majority of cases appearing in young adult population groups aged 15 to 45 years and the same age group were affected by HIV and AIDS as they were also economically productive.

In his speech read for him by Kalulushi District Administrative Officer, Jacob Musukwa last evening during the commemoration of World TB held in Chambishi, Mr Mutisa said health facilities were much more than bricks and mortar.

Mr Mutisa said that keeping of health facilities safe from disasters was one way of reducing risks and saving lives of people from TB.

He, however, said partnerships were needed among all actors to ensure appropriate investment, sharing of information and best practices and relevant support for making health facilities safe and able to function in emergency situations.

He said this years World TB Day theme, ‘I am stopping TB,’ places emphasis on the fact that everyone needed to play a part in the fight against TB.

He added that the day was important in that it helped to raise awareness about TB in the communities and also in mobilising resources and support towards the fight against the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Mr Mutisa has said that the success of TB programmes lied in mobilising all stakeholders involved in the TB programmes such as TB patients, former TB patients, treatment supporters and home based care groups.

He said other stakeholders that were to be involved in the success of the TB programme were Faith Based Organisations (FBA), families, health workers, government and private sector.

ZANIS/ENDS/EZ/EB

Government says it is continually increasing investment in health infrastructure that can with stand disasters in order to respond positively to disasters.

Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao said disasters like droughts, floods, disease out breaks and road traffic accidents have in the recent past been one of the greatest challenges to Government.

Mr. Simbao said disasters do increase the disease burden thereby making it more difficult for the country’s health system to cope.

He was speaking when he officiated at the World Health Day Celebrations whose theme was ‘Save Lives, Make Hospitals Safe in Emergencies’ at Nakatindi Hall in Lusaka today.

Mr. Simbao said Government is updating and installing technology and medical equipment in the health sector to meet the growing demands of disasters, adding that training is also going on in an effort to cope with disasters.

The Minister said with the support of cooperating partners like World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), his ministry is doing everything possible to ensure that health facilities are accessible and function at maximum capacity immediately after a disaster event.

He urged Zambians to take keen interest in building momentum for widespread emergency preparedness saying every disaster is a human and health tragedy.

Mr. Simbao thanked partners that worked with Government in recent disasters that the country experienced, adding that it is every person’s obligation to participate in making the country’s health facilities safer in emergencies.

“We therefore must all in spite of the magnitude of the problem combine efforts to put in pace measures to prevent disasters which are a tragedy to humans and health” he said.

And speaking earlier, who Country Representative Olusegun Babaniyi said WHO is dedicating the World Health Day 2009 to starting a new process that goes beyond a day celebration.

Dr Babaniyi said WHO will in 2009 and beyond be working with international and national partners to assist countries in preparing their health facilities and staff for emergencies.

He disclosed that WHO will support member states to develop and implement national policies and programmes to make health facilities safe in emergencies.

The Country Representative also revealed that technical support will be given to countries to develop emergency response plans, train health workers to respond to emergencies and document best practices as well as lessons learnt.

He said the campaign will assist member states to build resilience into their health systems so that hospitals, clinics and staff can withstand future crises and provide the health care that communities need in times of emergences.

And also speaking at the same event, Lusaka Provincial Medical Officer Tackson Lambart said emergencies can occur at anytime and place.

Dr Lambart said emergencies are acute to child development, adding that hospitals need to be ready to receive and manage emergencies at all times.

ZANIS/PM/ENDS/MM