…as Recruitment of medical personnel stays on course

Sat, 15 Oct 2016 10:51:10 +0000

GOVERNMENT has dismissed media reports that it has nullified the recruitment of health workers throughout the country. Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya said the recruitment of health personnel was ongoing using the K73 million funds from the 2016 national budgetary allocation. Dr. Chilufya told Parliament in a ministerial statement yesterday that 2,000 health workers had so far been recruited in various clinics and hospitals countrywide.

He said that Government was focusing on investing in rural areas where primary health care was dearly wanted.  He said 200 environmental health technologists, 250 Zambia Enrolled Nurses, 200 Enrolled Nurse mid-wives and 263 Community Health Assistants among others that have been deployed to offer services in rural areas. He further refuted claims that the progression rate of construction works of five health posts in Chipili constituency was at zero percent.

“Rumours that my ministry has nullified the recruitment of health personnel is not correct. Mr. Speaker, the recruitment of health staff is ongoing,” he said. Meanwhile, Dr. Chilufya has disclosed that Government terminated the contract of Angelique International Limited, the contractor engaged to build 247 health posts under the 650 health posts project.

He said the contractor was engaged to build health posts in Muchinga, Northern, Luapula and North-Western provinces. The Minister said Government has instead allocated the Zambia National Service (ZNS) to complete the project works.  “Mr. Speaker, ZNS has got adequate capacity to carry-out any civil works in any part of Zambia,” he said.