.President Lungu

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has assured the Saudi Fund Development that his Government is committed to ensuring that the construction of the 800-bed capacity women and children’s hospital in Lusaka is effectively implemented.
The President has, meanwhile, called on the Saudi Fund Development to help in addressing Zambia’s challenges that have hindered the implementation of the project.
He said the Government was eager to see to see the project get off the ground.
Mr Lungu said he was delighted with the visit of the delegation from the Saudi Arabia Fund Development and that his Government would ensure that they worked together to implement the project.
He said this at State House yesterday when a delegation from Saudi Arabia
Fund Development paid a courtesy call on the First Lady, Esther Lungu.
Ms Lungu noted that once constructed, the hospital would enhance
health service delivery for women and children in Zambia.
She said that despite significant progress having been made in the past decade to reduce maternal, neonatal and child mortality, deaths resulting from complications and infections were still unacceptably high.
The First Lady was optimist that the new specialist hospital would provide latest technology and create incentives for positive maternal, neonatal and child health results.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said the Government had prioritised maternal and child health, hence it was making prudent investment in expanding services in the sector.
Dr Chilufya said the construction of a specialised women and children’s hospital was a key investment that would also bring about improved capacity to train human resource in the health sector.
Saudi Fund managing director Yousef Albassom said his country was pleased to invest in establishing a specialised women and children’s hospital in Zambia. -ZANIS