An erratic water supply has his hit Nakonde first level referral health centre in Muchinga Province.
ZANIS reports that the shortage was so critical that residents are forced to carry buckets of water to the hospital mortuary to prepare bodies of their loved ones for burial.
One of the residents, Evaristo Mwila who described the situation as extremely bad complained to ZANIS that people have resorted to drawing water from wells in nearby places due to lack of water at the health centre.
Mr. Mwila, who had a family bereavement explained that they were informed by mortuary attendants when they went to prepare the body of their relative that the institution had no water and that they could not wash the body.
Mr Mwila said this created a sense of fear and panic among his relatives as where to find water to wash the body of their relative.
And one of the health workers who opted for anonymity also told reporters that the institution last received water from Chambeshi water and Sewerage Company about three days ago.
Meanwhile, Nakonde district commissioner James Singoyi has directed the water utility to work round the clock and ensure that the problem is rectified.
Mr. Singoyi said he does not understand why the company is failing to supply water to the institution.
Mr. Singoyi has also advised residents in the area not to panic as his office will do all it can to ensure that the water problem at the health center is sorted out.
Efforts to get a comment from Chambeshi Water and Sewerage Company manager in Nakonde proved futile by press time as he was reported to be out of the district and was not reachable on his mobile.