Siavonga budgets K25 million for construction of modern hospital

Siavonga budgets K25 million for construction of modern hospital

Siavonga, July 19, ZANIS —— Siavonga District Hospital Acting medical Officer, Phallon Mwaba says over K25 million has been budgeted for by the health institution to construct a new modern district hospital.

And Dr Mwaba said the entire infrastructure of the current hospital building needs a face lift.

He said the constructing of a new district hospital in the area will result in an improved service delivery to the community that will reduce referrals as most of the medical cases will be dealt with
locally.

Dr Mwaba added that with the improved infrastructure and equipment , disease incidences like maternal mortality will be reduced due to improved case management which will lead to a healthier population in the district.

This came to light yesterday when Dr Mwaba presented his report of the hospital under the infrastructure subcommittee during the District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC) meeting which was held at Manchinchi bay  lodge in Siavonga.

He further said that the proposed project of constructing a new modern hospital once approved by the ministry of health will provide the much needed services to the local and international tourists visiting Siavonga district which is one of the tourist destinations in the country.

Dr Mwaba however complained that the roof at the existing hospital has a lot of leakages and the ceiling is rotting.

He added that the old equipments in the mortuary at the hospital was giving  problems and the room was too small as it could only accommodate three bodies and six when over parked.

Dr Mwaba said the hospital has no backup power source in the event of a power outage and has no enough ward space to serve as isolation ward for cases such as TB, measles and cholera.

He also said that the storage system at the health centre has been a challenge leading to some items been stored in the laundry causing disorder and insecurity for the stored items.

Meanwhile, Siavonga District Commissioner Brave Mweetwa said the government is committed to upgrade and improve the health institutions to better standards and ensure that the welfare of the people in the district is properly secured.

He said the government was in a hurry to develop the district and make sure that a modern hospital that will reduce the referral cases for patients needing specific care is constructed in the area.

And Mazabuka District Commissioner Eugene Munyama who was among the invited District Commissioners that attended the meeting urged the heads of government departments that were present to work hard with the government of the day and be drivers of government programmes in the area.

"You need to work hard with the government of the day and don’t wait for tomorrow because the time is now," he said.