Scott seeks Scottish help to develop health sector

1
Dr Guy Scott
Dr Guy Scott

Zambia has requested the government of Scotland to help her to further develop the health sector in order to improve the wellbeing of Zambians.

 

Vice President Guy Scott asked the Scottish government to render assistance to Zambia during a closed door meeting which he held with Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Alex Neil in Glasgow yesterday.

 

Dr Scott told ZANIS through First Secretary for Press at the Zambian mission in the United Kingdom, Amos Chanda, that the two countries resolved to work together in the area of health.

 

He said all the three ministries that deal with issues of health would be looked at by the Scottish government.

 

The three ministries are Health, Community Development, Mother and Child Health and the ministry of Local Government and Housing.

 

And Mr Neil said in an interview that his government would send a team of experts to Zambia before the end of this year to assess which areas it can attend to.

 

“We have agreed to send health officials from the Scottish government to Zambia before the end of this year to look at areas in which the Scottish government and the health service can be of assistance to the people of Zambia,” he said.

 

He noted that Zambia, like many other developing countries, is facing a number of health challenges hence the decision by his government to consider assisting in the areas of technology and knowledge transfer in the health sector.

 

“We had a very productive outcome from the conversation that we had with Dr. Scott,”Mr Neil disclosed after the closed door meeting.

 

Mr Neil added that his meeting with Dr Scott was very important especially that Zambia was a developing country and that the two countries shared a long history dating back to the 19th century when the Scottish missionary, David Livingstone explored and died in Zambia.

He further noted that yesterday’s meeting and other recent interactions between Zambia and Scotland will enhance the two countries’ future development relations.

 

Dr Scott was accompanied to the meeting by his Senior Private Secretary, Robert Kamalata,  Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Paul Lumbi and First Secretary for Press at the Zambia Mission in UK, Amos Chanda.

 

Last night, Dr Scott witnessed the official opening of the 20th Commonwealth games at the Celtic park in Glasgow.

 

A total of 43 Zambian athletes are participating in various sports disciplines at the 2014 Commonwealth games in Scotland.

1 COMMENT

  1. Now the importance of developing the health sector is being moved center stage! Some happenings sure tend to be a blessing in disguise! Further the Zambian government would do well courting the Cuban government too which against all odds has one of the best managed health sector. Cuba is a developing country in similar vein as Zambia thus a roadmap to bettering health services would be easier to follow. Anyway well done Scott for talking health with the Scottish.

LEAVE A REPLY