Dr Kaseba on 2-day ‘operation’ in Choma

FIRST Lady Christine Kaseba is in Choma, where she has joined other medical specialists in conducting several operations at Choma General Hospital.
Dr Kaseba’s two-day working visit is part of the 10-day mobile outreach programme organised by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child and Ubutala Bwa Bumi, a non-governmental organisation she runs.
The First Lady, who is an obstetrician and a gynaecologist, was joined by other specialist medical officers in performing several operations ranging from gynaecology complications to removal of fibroids and ovaries.
Upon arrival in Choma yesterday, Dr Kaseba mingled with patients who turned up in large numbers to seek medical attention at the mobile hospital mounted near Choma General Hospital.
Dr Kaseba, who was welcomed by Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe, senior government and health officials, toured the cervical cancer screening centre, general medics, observation centre and the registration office.
And in welcoming her, Mr Munkombwe commended Dr Kaseba for being a pride to Zambians in the medical field due to her hard work.
“Doctors are professional people who should continue with their hard work and not pay attention to critics. Mobile hospitals are servicing a lot of Zambians and we are happy with the work being done,” Mr Munkombwe said.
Meanwhile, about 891 patients with different medical conditions were attended to by specialist medical officials who are in Choma for the mobile outreach programme.
And at a media briefing, Southern Province medical officer Simon Mutembo said the outreach programme is providing services to hundreds of people in remote areas of the province.
“The surgical team attended to 11 major and other minor cases yesterday [Tuesday]. These are very poor patients who have been on the operating theatre list for a long time and could not be operated on due to lack of specialised medical staff in the province as they cannot afford travel costs to Lusaka,” Dr Mutembo said.
Dr Mutembo said the patients attended to were from Monze, Namwala, Kalomo and Gwembe, whose transport and accommodation costs have been met by the Ministry of Health.
The mobile outreach programme also attended to 265 women, who were screened for cervical cancer, out of whom four were recommended for treatment.