Shilenda residents appeal for opening of Lwamwana hospital

Shilenda residents appeal for opening of Lwamwana hospital

Solwezi, Oct 6/14, ZANIS—–Residents of Shilenda area in Solwezi district have appealed to government to urgently open the newly-built Lumwana Hospital.

Lumwana Hospital was completed in 2010 and was expected to be officially opened in 2012, but the government has not done so.

The residents say the only rural health centre in Shilenda area is unable to cater for 16,000 clients including the miners’ families, adding that his brother’s son died recently of a disease which could not be diagnosed.

In an interview with ZANIS, Shilenda youth club chairman, Barton Kasusuti, said Lumwana Hospital, which is in Shilenda area, already has electric power connected.

He stressed that even health personnel had already been deployed to run the new institution but wondered why government was dragging its feet to open it.

Mr  Kasusuti revealed that Shilenda rural health centre has only one   nurse who has to cope with a catchment area of 16,000 clients.

North Western Provincial Medical Officer (PMO), Simulyama Choonga said health personnel are already in Lusaka to purchase equipment and all essential drugs before the hospital can be opened.

He added that the 78 year-old nurse is overworked and has been working alone for several years.

Promises by senior government officials to beef up staff at the clinic have never been fulfilled.

Mr Kasusuti furthermore stated that the people are very aggrieved and worried with the emergency cases where they depend on an ambulance from Kisasa and Maheba clinics for quick evacuation to Solwezi General Hospital.