Fire guts Lewanika Hospital Pharmacy

Fire has gutted Lewanika General Hospital Pharmacy in Mongu District for the second time.

However, quick response by the fire brigade quenched the fire before it could spread elsewhere as hospital staff quickly evacuated patients from the wards for fear of fire spreading to the rest of the hospital.

Hospital Medical Superintendent Likambi Kambinda confirmed the incident to ZANIS in Mongu today.

He said no life was lost and that prompt action by hospital staff saved the pharmacy’s drug stock from been destroyed.

Dr Kambinda said the cause of the fire was not known but said staff who were scheduled to have a meeting in the same building discovered that the building had caught fire after been disturbed by electrical sparks.

Meanwhile Western Province Permanent Secretary Augustine Seyuba expressed concern over the gutted pharmacy as it was the second time that fire had swept through the pharmacy.

Mr Seyuba said Hospital management had not yet established the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage caused to the building and the drugs.

He however expressed happiness that no life was lost and assured that the provincial administration will work round the clock to ensure that the pharmacy resumes operations.

In 2006, Lewanika General Hospital Pharmacy was gutted by fire prompting the provincuial administration to renovate the building.

ZANIS /ENDS/WM/SM/CB……….DRY