Govt budgets for providing health services closer to the people

Mr Mulenga said it is one of the Patriotic Front (PF) government’s plan to build at least 650 health posts and district hospitals and provide meaningful health care services to all citizens.

The health Deputy Minister was speaking yesterday when he addressed Ministry of Health officials in Kaoma on his tour of the district’s infrastructure and pharmaceutical.

Mr Mulenga acknowledged that Zambia is still far away in meeting international standards on infrastructure, personnel and drugs.

He, however, noted that for Zambia to achieve its goal meaningfully on health there is need for government to invest more on training personnel in line with the new technologies that have flooded their profession.

Mr Mulenga sad currently Zambia has a deficit of front line health service providers, a situation which has resulted in some health centres being run by unqualified personnel.

However, Kaoma District Commissioner, Joster Manjolo, informed the Deputy Minister that people of Kaoma are happy with government’s plan on decentralization policy in the Ministry of Health.

Mr Manjolo said Kaoma district has a total of 381 health personnel against the existing six houses.
He explained that a plot for the construction of staff houses was identified but complained that the Ministry of Works and Supply has taken too long to respond so that they can proceed with the building.

The DC observed that the delay in the completing the New Kaoma General Hospital can be attributed to lack of seriousness by contractors engaged by officials from Lusaka.

He said it has been difficult for the district health team to supervise works as the contractors prove to be difficult in the absence of the people that contracted them.

Mr Manjolo further mentioned that Kaoma district has a number of challenges ranging from lack of a stand-by generator set to poor communication network to health centres dotted across the district.

He further stated that Kaoma district only has three vehicles which are being used as utility vehicles and ambulances at the same time.

Mr Manjolo said in some areas officers are still using motor bikes which are not fit for transporting patients.