Mon, 04 Sep 2017 12:42:28 +0000
By Mukosela Kasalwe in Mongu
GOVERNMENT has reached an advanced stage in the procurement of state-of-the-art medical equipment worth 66 million Euros to fully service 38 hospitals in Zambia, says Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya.
Dr Chilufya said a broad range of medical equipment had been identified and that 38 million Euros had so far been spent in the procurement process.
He said among the equipment on the procurement list included imaging, xray and other modern tools.
Dr Chilufya said this in Mongu District yesterday, when he met district health directors and informed them that the Japanese Government through JICA would procure 30 x-rays valued at 2 million dollars.
He said the procurement of the remaining 28 million Euros was expected to be finalised by next week.
The minister said the move would improve service delivery and fully equip health institutions such as Lewanika General hospital.
“We have reached an advanced stage in the procurement of a broad range of medical equipment valued at 66 million dollars such as imaging, x-Ray with 38 million Euros having been spent.
“This will fully service 38 hospitals around the country and improve service delivery,” he said.
And Dr Chilufya directed provincial health director Francis Liyawalii to ensure that Western Province health centres had enough vehicles to speedily respond to emergencies by liasing with other departments.
He said the issue of lack of transport would soon be a thing of the past as 120 vehicles through cooperating partners such as UNAID would be rolled out.
He said Mongu Hospital would be commissioned in October as an independence gift to the province and urged the contactor to expedite works as government was not owing the contractor any money.
Dr Chilufya urged the directors to communicate the significance of the routine HIV and AIDS testing as pronounced by President Edgar Lungu saying it would greatly reduce the scourge.
He urged health officers to continue collaborating with the local authority in the fight against malaria through indoor spraying, using treated mosquito nets among others.
And Western Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu urged the gathering to implement Government policies if what the State aimed to achieve would be successful.
Mr Mubukwanu said there was need for a continued fight against HIV and AIDS as the province still had an unacceptable rate.
