Mufumbwe district hospital in need of surgical sets

———- Mufumbwe District Hospital Nursing Officer, Laban Mungwala, has revealed that the theatre at the hospital is not operational due to lack of surgical sets.

Mr. Mungwala said most equipment at the district hospital theatre has been installed but that the  institution is still waiting for surgical sets for the operations theatre to be operational.

He disclosed this at a meeting held recently in Mufumbwe District at the council chambers.

The meeting was attended by government heads of departments and the area Member of Parliament, Steven Masumba.

Mr. Mungwala said the hospital administration had earlier made a request from the Ministry of Health and is still waiting for feedback.

He further added that the hospital is also in need of a new X-ray machine since the one which is there is not in good condition.

Mr. Mungwala explained that the X-ray machine that was partially installed at the hospital came from Western Province and had a number of missing parts.

He noted that once the hospital receives the surgical sets and the X-ray machine which is in good condition, it will help put an end to ferrying patients to Mukinge General Hospital in Kasempa which he said is a distance of about 150 to 300 kilometres.

The Nursing Officer further called on the Member of Parliament to assist in ensuring that the district hospital is fenced in order to control traffic at the hospital premises and congestion in the wards.

Mr. Mungwala said members of the community move in and out of the hospital whenever they please making it difficult for hospital management to manage the situation.

Further, Mr. Mungwala explained that the hospital is still operating without an ambulance.

He added that the only ambulance which the hospital has is being worked on at a cost of K25 million out of which the Provincial Medical Officer has paid KR 10,000.

Mr. Mungwala also stated that the office block for the District Medical Officer is not yet complete adding that an amount of about KR82 million is needed for its completion.

And Mufumbwe Member of Parliament Steven Masumba reiterated government’s commitment to ensuring that good health services are delivered to the people countrywide.

Mr. Masumba, who is also Deputy Minister for Youth and Sport, assured the medical personnel of government’s intervention in the situation at the health institution to ensure that operations are effective and that the issue of ferrying patients to Mukinge General Hospital comes to an end.

He also pledged to assist the hospital in paying the remaining amount of K15 million to have the ambulance back at the hospital as soon as possible.