Stanley Kakubo foreign affairs minister has revealed that government will soon embark on the construction of a modern hospital in Kapiri Mposhi.
Accodrding to the Mast, Mr Kabubo was Speaking when he donated and handed over more than 600 blankets to the district health management team meant for patients at Kapiri Urban Clinic and Kapiri Mposhi District Hospital on Wednesday.
Mr Kakubo explained that the UPND administration was committed to providing quality healthcare for Zambians, hence the need to construct more health facilities.
He said government had been engaging some cooperating partners to facilitate for the construction of a hospital in the rural part of Kapiri Mposhi.
“We are aware of the many challenges we are facing when it comes to the provision of quality health care. The challenges are many and this has been compounded by the fact that we have a vast constituency… the biggest in Central Province,” explained Mr Kakubo who is alo Kapiri Mposhi member of parliament.
“And I should mention that we will commence the construction of another big and modern hospital in Kapiri Mposhi. We have partners that are coming to establish a big and modern hospital. If we can have one in the western part of the district, another one in the eastern and also have one more in the central part of the district.”
He added that with the recruitment of health workers, the challenge of low staffing levels would be a thing of the past.
“We know that as medical staff you are working long hours owing to the prevailing low staffing levels in our health facilities. But I want to assure you that after the recruited health workers are deployed, the challenge of low staffing levels in our health facilities will be addressed. And I want to say that Kapiri Mposhi district is positioned to receive more medical staff,” said Kakubo.
And Kapiri Mposhi district health director Catherine Kalumba implored health workers to ensure that the donated blankets reached intended recipients.
“These blankets that have been donated are meant for patients and should, therefore, go to the intended recipients. And don’t segregate when giving these blankets. Don’t give priority to the well to do. For us, all patients are equal and should be treated with equality,” said Dr Kalumba.
Meanwhile, Kapiri Central ward councillor Ronald Simwanza has appealed to Kakubo to consider lobbying for the procurement of more ambulances that could be used by health staff in the district.
He noted that the district medical office did not have adequate utility vehicles and ambulances to enable them carry out their work efficiently.