Deplorable state of Lewanika hospital worry Mubukwanu

Mr Mubukwanu said his office has received numerous complaints from the surrounding community on the poor services that the hospital was offering.

ZANIS reports that speaking when he addressed Lewanika General Hospital management after touring the institution, Mr Mubukwanu, who is also Southern province Minister, said failure of the hospital management to perform to people’s expectations will make the people translate it as a failure on part of the Patriotic Front (PF) government.

“ I agree that the hospital is the second  oldest in the country, but this should not give you an excuse to fail to meet your mandate of providing quality health care services to the people of Mongu district and western province as a whole”, he said.

Mr Mubukwanu said people have complained about the attitude of the health personnel at the hospital and called on management to quickly address the issue.

He also urged the hospital management to establish a public relations office at the hospital in order to improve communication with the public to reduce complaints.

“If Lewanika General Hospital does not communicate well with the public, this being a government institution people will rise against Government for the failure of the hospital management to perform”, he said.

The Member of Parliament was also not happy with the dirty walls and floors he noted during the tour of the hospital and called for an immediate clean-up of the health institution.

He said Government believes that a hospital should provide a clean and healthy environment for the patients.

“I understand the challenge of water the institution is facing, as such I will purchase a booster pump at the cost of K2000 to ease this water challenge on condition that you clean up the hospital and repair all leaking taps”, he said.

Meanwhile, Lewanika General Hospital Medical Superintendent  Muntanga Mapani said the institution has a shortage of staff.

Dr Mapani said although the hospital has expanded it has continued to operate under the old establishment making it difficult for to perform to expectation.

She said the hospital had a challenge of accessing drugs through medical stores saying instead it has to buy the medicines resulting in a debt of about K1.2 million.

Dr Mapani however appealed to Mr Mubukwanu to help the hospital address some of the challenges that are hindering its service delivery.

And in response, Mr Mubukwanu assured the hospital management that he would  help the institution table its operational challenges to the Ministry of Health.