State opens new Lufwanyama Hospital

GOVERNMENT has finally commissioned the new Lufwanyama Hospital constructed at a cost of K15, 056,390.
Health Minister, Joseph Kasonde said the opening of the hospital was yet another milestone towards the attainment of equity of access to quality health services close to the people.
Dr Kasonde said this yesterday in a speech read on his behalf by Health Deputy Minister Chitalu Chilufya during the commissioning of the District Hospital in Lufwanyama.
He said before the construction of the hospital, patients who needed healthcare services were being referred to Kitwe Central Hospital which was 80 Kilometres away from Lufwanyama.
Dr Kasonde said referred patients had to travel long distances, at great costs, to reach KCH.
He said the situation had serious implications on the outcome of the referred patients, considering that the majority of them were poor with severe health complications and conditions.
“It is gratifying therefore, to note that with the opening of this hospital, the distance and time covered by referred patients will significantly reduce.
“The construction of this hospital in Lufwanyama will consequently lead to reduction in mortality and contribute towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) on health,” Dr Kasonde said.
Dr Kasonde said the hospital included a maternity block, service block, X-ray and theatre blocks, male and female wards, OPD block, mortuary, incinerator, the administration block, pediatrics ward, 10 staff houses, water supply and external works.
He said Government was committed to re-organise the health sector to ensure significant improvement in service delivery in a clean and caring environment.
He added that out of the 650 health posts being constructed countrywide, nine health posts had been apportioned to Lufwanyama.
Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Howard Sikwela appealed to health staff deployed to the new hospital to work hard.