First Lady asks govt. to elevate Solwezi General Hospital

First Lady asks govt.  to elevate Solwezi Gen. Hospital

SOLWEZI/20th JUNE, 2013/ZANIS……First lady  Christine Kaseba has
appealed to government to consider giving Solwezi General
Hospital in Northwestern province a full status of a provincial
General hospital.

And Senior Chief Mujimazovu of the Kaonde
speaking people in Solwezi district  has reaffirmed traditional
leaders’ commitment to supporting efforts aimed at curbing gender
based violence  in Northwestern province.

Dr Kaseba said there is need for Solwezi general hospital to be
granted a full status of a provincial general hospital with required
manpower and equipment by government for it to handle the increased
demand of health services in the area.

ZANIS reports that the First Lady was speaking in Solwezi today during the launch of a 5th one
stop centre for Gender Based Violence (GVB) survivors at Solwezi
General Hospital.

She said the hospital which was initially meant to be a district health institution is

now operating as a provincial hospital putting pressure on its infrastructure and manpower.

Meanwhile, Dr Kaseba said the country has continued to record high
cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) despite government stiffening
laws to punish perpetrators through the revision of the penal code.

Dr Kaseba said the scourge has become endemic in Zambia and
detrimental to the lives of women and girls and humanity as a whole.

“Sadly GVB is also perpetrated by some harmful cultural and religious
practices that facilitate all forms of discrimination and exploitation
against women and girls such as  marrying off girls at a tender age
thereby, depriving them of opportunities to enjoy their childhood and
right to education, “she said .

Dr Kaseba said the setting up of a one stop centre in Solwezi is a
step in the right direction as it will provide people with an
opportunity to foster efforts to eradicate GBV.

She called for re-doubled efforts by all stakeholders to put an end to
the vice in both preventing GBV and providing services to survivors of
the scourge.

Speaking at the same function Senior Chief Mujimazovu of the Kaonde
speaking people in Solwezi district  has reaffirmed traditional
leaders’ commitment to supporting efforts aimed at curbing gender
based violence  in Northwestern province.

Senior Chief Mujimazovu said traditional leaders in the province will
remain committed to supporting efforts by government and other
stakeholders aimed at eliminating GBV which he described as not being
part of culture or tradition.

The traditional leaders who acknowledged the increased number of GBV
cases in communities denounced people who try to justify GBV as being
part of tradition and culture, adding that such justifications are not
acceptable and must be condemned by all.

“GBV is not part of culture or tradition but a criminal act regardless
of who has committed it. Whether committed by a stranger or someone we
know it must be condemned in the strongest terms,” he noted.

Senior Chief Mujimazovu urged people in the province to embrace
non-violence behavior so as to create a free and fearless society for
women and girls.

The Traditional ruler observed that women in the country can greatly
contribute to meaningful social and economic development if only they
can live in an environment free from GBV.

Meanwhile, Minister of gender and child development, Inonge Wina says
the centre is one strategy that will contribute towards the attainment
of women empowerment.

Ms. Wina said this was in line with government’s vision of
reaching a zero tolerance on GVB as enshrined in the Anti- GBV Act
with it management guidelines.

She  commended the First lady for her tireless efforts and passion
in the fight against GBV in the country.

And North-western Provincial Minister, Nathaniel Mubukwanu commended
YWCA for opening up a one stop centre for GBV survivors saying this
will help address the increasing number of GBV cases in the province.

Mr. Mubukwanu said YMCA must also consider providing support services
to children who have been brought up in homes where GBV is
perpetrated.