By JAMES KUNDA –

GOVERNMENT has provided health staff and equipment to operate the refurbished Northern Command military hospital in Ndola, Defence Deputy Minister Christopher Mulenga has said.
Mr Mulenga said 10 nurses have been recruited while doctors were being located within the military to run the hospital which has been refurbished at a cost of K7.5 million under phase one.
He was speaking in Ndola yesterday after a tour of the facility which has been equipped with an outpatient department, kitchen, x-ray and theatre.
“This facility was set-up to supplement health care delivery services by the over the overstretched Maina Soko military hospital in Lusaka and other intuitions providing this service to the people.
“I am happy with what has been done under phase one of the project and funding is readily available to execute phases two and three which will be done in due course,” he said.
Mr Mulenga said Government would ensure that the facility, which is open to ordinary members of the public, is fully stocked with medicine so that essential drugs are readily available for the people.
He stressed that management must ensure that the hospital is kept clean as military hospitals elsewhere carried the profile of accommodating acclaimed personnel such as Presidents.
Northern command military hospital commanding officer Warren Chilufya said the facility had a bed space of between 85 and 90 and will cater for all provinces in northern Zambia.
He appealed to Government to consider setting up housing units in an area surrounding the hospital to ease challenges of accommodation.