By KASONDE KASONDE –
IN a quest to improve health service delivery and meet staffing levels in newly-constructed health facilities, the Government has created more than 9,000 jobs in the health sector, ministry of Health permanent secretary Peter Mwaba has said.
The development is in addition to 6,000 teaching jobs that the Government advertised during the week in fulfillment of its promise to create jobs for the youth in the country.
Dr Mwaba said the recruiting of more than 9,000 health staff would enhance service delivery across the country.
“Government understands that for health services to be easily accessed, there is need for human resource.
“It is in this vein that Cabinet has approved in principle the creation of 9,362 positions in a bid to enhance health service delivery,” Dr Mwaba said.
He was speaking on Thursday during the sector advisory group stakeholders’ meeting at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.
Dr Mwaba said in an effort to bridge the current financing gap and moving towards the attainment of universal health coverage, the Government had put emphasis on the establishment of the National Social Health Insurance scheme.
He said although the development of the scheme had long reached an advanced stage, the implementation still awaited the finalisation of the national Social Protection Bill.
Dr Mwaba said the national social protection Bill incorporated social health insurance, social security and social assistance.
Earlier, Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ) executive director Karen Sichinga said churches were ready to educate their members on the importance of family planning.
Ms Sichinga said the church would, however, keep true to its theological teaching.
She said CHAZ was working with the Government, United Nations Population Fund and others to scale up training on family planning.