By PASSY HAACHIZO –
THE Government has commissioned Kamakuti rural health post in Kabwe which is part of the 32 that have been allocated to Central Province out of the 650 being built across the country.
Health Minister Joseph Kasonde, who unveiled the health post on Thursday, said the health facility would help reduce distances covered by residents to the nearest clinic.
Until now, residents in Kamakuti area have had to walk for more than 15 kilomwtres to access health services at Choba health centre and Kabwe General Hospital which are both located in town.
Dr Kasonde said the health post would help in reducing the distance that women walked as they took children for immunisation and other nutritional services.
“Our response to emergencies will be quicker as this facility will be a public health link to other higher levels of care at Kabwe General and Mine hospitals, including the University Teaching Hospital,” he said.
Out of the 32, about 16 structures have so far been erected and construction works are in progress while two which have been completed have already been handed over to the Government.
The province has also received 18 basic life support and four advanced life support ambulances.
Dr Kasonde said it was Government’s intention to upgrade health institutions in Zambia into advanced hospitals and incorporate some into training schools.
Central Province Minister Davies Chisopa said the Government had accelerated the provision of quality health services to different communities by constructing health facilities across Zambia.
“The province has so far received a fair share of infrastructure development in the health sector and construction works are progressing well,” Mr Chisopa said.
He thanked the community chairperson Charles Muchanga who donated a piece of land where the health post was built and pledged community support to Government programmes.