By SIMON MUNTEMBA
KASAMA Municipal Council (KMC) has with immediate effect closed a clinic that was illegally operating in Chitamba Compound.
According to Kasama Town Clerk Zakeyo Mbao, the closure was effected following a tip-off from the residents over the illegality that has been going on at the named house which the owner has been using as a health facility.
Mr Mbao identified the owner of the closed clinic as Dr Gerald Chishimba Ng’onga of Chitamba Compound.
He said during an impromptu operation at the named house, a team of health inspectors from the KMC, Ministry of Health as well as officers from the Health Professions Council of Zambia and the Zambia Police Service found people seated outside waiting to be attended to by the doctor.
Mr Mbao said the owner could, however, not produce any permit that allows him to operate as a health facility contrary to the Public Health Act Cap 295, the Food and Drugs Safety Act No. 7 of 2019 and the Local Government Act No. 2 of 2019 of the Laws of Zambia
“During inspection, it was revealed that sanitation at the premises is poor. There are no proper toilets for people to use and no running water. Further, the facility has no proper room for the storage of medicine as well as no mechanism to dispose of waste.
“There was no waiting area and neither did people have face masks nor observing social distance,” he said.
He said the local authority would not condone any form of activities within its jurisdiction that put the lives of the people in danger.
Mr Mbao appealed to the general public to report all suspicious and illegal activities so that appropriate action could be taken.
Illegal Kasama Clinic closed
