-Government says plans are underway to upgrade health facilities countrywide in a bid to have about 12 teaching hospitals in Zambia by 2015.
Ministry of Health Deputy Minister in charge of infrastructure, health care finance and information Christopher Mulenga says this will be done in three phases with four (4) teaching hospitals been set up every year.
Mr. Mulenga disclosed that government will this year upgrade Ndola, Kitwe, and Livingstone hospitals into teaching hospitals.
Mr. Mulenga was speaking in Kabompo today when he addressed personnel from the Kabompo district Hospital following a tour of the hospital.
The Deputy Minister further revealed that government wants to upgrade district hospitals to general hospitals and general hospitals to central hospitals in order to decongest the limited referral capacity of health facilities in the country.
Mr. Mulenga stated that by having services offered by the University Teaching Hosptial (UTH) being also provided at district level the Ministry will be able to address the challenges of mortality in the Country.
Mr. Mulenga said having UTH as the only teaching hospital in the country was costly not only on government but also on the public who have to travel long distances to have access to quality health.
And Kabompo acting District Commissioner Kennedy Pezo said the district faced a lot of challenges of accommodation, health services, and transport.
He however said he was happy with government’s work in trying to foster development in the district.
Mr. Pezo who is Kabompo District Administrative Officer said upgrading of roads and the putting up of a pontoon on the Kabompo River would go a long way in ensuring that more people have access to health services in the district.