Govt saddened by increasing renal failure deaths

Government is saddened that a lot of people have died of renal failure due to lack of dialysis machines in hospitals.

Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenge said this when he visited Ndola Central Hospital (NCH) onMarch 23 to have an on the spot check of the institution’s psychiatric unit which is being constructed at a total cost of K14 million.

Mr. Musenge who was accompanied by Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Howard Sikwela said it was sad to note that many people  had died of renal failure due to lack of dialysis machines in most hospitals across the country.

Mr. Musenge who was briefed by Head of Clinical Care Sebstian Chinkoyo that Ndola Central Hospital will by June this year receive seven Dialysis machines, said it was government’s agenda to ensure that hospitals in the province were equipped with such critical life-saving machines.

The Provincial Minister noted that the Dialysis machines will go a long way in reducing the number of deaths caused by renal failure once the hospital was equipped with the equipment.

“Government found it necessary that most hospital should have dialysis machines to ensure that all the people including the vulnerable have access to these facilities and this will go a long way in helping those with renal problems,” Mr. Musenge said.

And Mr. Musenge stated that mentally challenged people on the streets need to be cared for as the problem cannot be ignored.

He said Ndola Central Hospital was the only institution on the Copperbelt province that was currently looking after the mentally challenged people hence the construction of a psychiatric unit was a positive development.

He added that once the psychiatric unit was completed all mentally challenged people on the streets should be rounded up to receive care at the facility.

NCH has contracted Jeremy Enterprises to construct a modern ultra psychiatric Unit which will be a two- storey building consisting of an administration block, male and female wards with about 130 bed spaces.

The construction of the modern ultra psychiatric unit is expected to be completed in December  this year.

Mr. Musenge has however warned the contractor to ensure that works are completed within the stipulated contract period.