Govt. extols Catholic Church for providing health care to underprivileged people

Government has paid tribute to the Catholic Church for the latter’s commitment to provide health care to people living in rural areas.

Deputy Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health Dorothy Kazonga said the Catholic Church provides 40 per cent of health care services in Zambia, especially in rural areas.

Ms. Kazonga said government would continue to provide an enabling environment for faith based organizations and churches to spearhead projects that were aimed at improving citizens’ access to health care.

She was speaking during the official opening of the Cardinal Adam Memorial Hospital in Lusaka today.

Ms. Kazonga said the new hospital was a milestone in the country’s vision of providing health care to all citizens as close as possible to their homes.

And Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) representative, Raymond Mpezele said the hospital, which is named after Zambia’s first Cardinal, was the first Catholic hospital in Lusaka.

Bishop Mpezele, who is Livingstone Bishop, explained that Cardinal Adam Memorial Hospital will only service out patients until admission wards were constructed.

He explained that the hospital will offer specialized health care services including dental care and minor operations.

He further disclosed that the Catholic Church still needs a total of US$1.3 million to complete phase two and three of the hospital which will include the construction of admission wards, operating theater, mortuary and staff houses among others.

Meanwhile, Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi, Archbishop Julio Murat prodded Christians to actively engage in charity work.

Archbishop Murat said Christians should consider it a privilege to be in a position to help the needy people.