SIDA releases K275,000 for maternity ward

SIDA releases K275,000 for maternity ward

Luangwa, March,14, 2015, ZANIS. . . The Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) has given the Luangwa District Health Office K275,000 to construct a maternity ward and mother’s shelter in Chief Mphuka’s area.

District Health Medical Officer Modesty Bwalya who was accompanied by the District Health Inspector, Oscar Nzila disclosed this to District Commissioner Eunie Mumba during a signing ceremony between the Contractor and the District Health Office yesterday in Luangwa.

Dr. Bwalya said the Ministry of Health with the help of SIDA has embarked on the construction of a maternity ward and mother’s shelter in Chief Mphuka’s area in its continued effort to reduce maternal deaths.

He said SIDA has given the District K275, 000 for the project which will finish in three months’ time as the money was already in the account for the Contractor to start works.

Dr. Bwalya further said his Office had been given another K100, 000 from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to construct a staff house where the maternity ward will be built.

And Luangwa District Commissioner Eunie Mumba commended SIDA and the government for considering putting up a maternity ward at Mphuka as women faced a lot of challenges going to Katondwe Mission Hospital which is about 30 kilo meters from Mphuka.

Mr. Mumba said the gesture was timely gesture and urged the contractor, Kabula Ichima Company Limited to put up good works so that the structures can stand a test of time.

He said Government was in hurry to provide services to the people and that the local contractors should prove that they can do a good job.

The District Commissioner further urged the Contractor to consider employing locals as he embarks on the construction works so that they could learn some skills and also earn some money to sustain their livelihoods.