By SANFROSSA MANYINDA
THE construction of primary health care facilities across the country will reduce maternal deaths and take health care services closer to the people, Health Minister Jonas Chanda has said.
He said Government was closing the gap and reducing distances people covered in accessing health services.
Dr Chanda said primary healthcare was important in an effort to ensure people were healthy.
He said this when he commissioned three health facilities, a maternity wing at Kaloko Health Centre which is also earmarked for upgrading to Level I Hospital, Mwenge A and Chimbala Health Posts in Ndola.
“The addition of a maternity wing at Kaloko health centre will benefit over 18, 000 people in the southern part of Ndola, thereby reducing the cost and stress of travelling to Mushili Commando Camp, New Masala Clinic and Ndola Teaching Hospital, where people have been accessing maternal health services.
“It is my hope that the construction of the facility will now contribute to the reduction of maternal deaths in the area as many of our mothers will be able to deliver from here,” the Minister said.
Dr Chanda was confident that the construction of the maternity wing would also reduce financial and time costs on the part of the Kaloko community.
Mwange-A and Chimbala Health Posts are part of the 650 health Posts Government is constructing across the country.
Dr Chanda stressed the need to safeguard such facilities as they were meant to serve the people.
Meanwhile, Ndola District Commissioner, Anthony Katongo, expressed gratitude on behalf of the residents of Bwana Mkubwa.
Mr Katongo said the district had received its fair distribution of Health Facilities aimed at improving access to health services.
